Selena Quintanilla-Pérez Portrait by Al Rendón

In this video, Associate Curator of Photographs for Smithsonian at the National Portrait Gallery, Leslie Ureña shares some history about Selena Quintanilla-Pérez' background, music and style as well as her work with portrait photographer Al Rendón.

Smithsonian Artifact Featured in this Video

Selena

See more items in: National Portrait Gallery Collection

Date: 1993

Object number: NPG.2007.193

Exhibition Label: Known as the "queen of Tejano music," Selena Quintanilla-Pérez brought wide recognition to this South Texas blend of Mexican and American musical styles. Her powerful voice made her the idol of fans on both sides of the border. Wearing a bustier, tight pants, and a pouting smile, Selena set a new standard for Latin beauty, and her self-confidence on stage brought comparisons with Madonna. In 1990 she released Ven Conmigo, the first Tejano album by a female artist to go gold, and soon she had her own clothing line and national product endorsements. She won a Grammy Award in 1994, but her life ended tragically the following year, when a former president of her fan club shot and killed her. Selena’s death at age twenty-three caused a huge outpouring of grief, and her legend then converged with the rising stardom of fellow Latina singer Jennifer Lopez, who gave a strong performance in her first leading role in Selena (1997).

Credit Line: National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Alfred and Elizabeth Rendon

Artist: Al Rendon, born 1957
Sitter: Selena, 16 Apr 1971 - 31 Mar 1995

Topic: Costume\Jewelry; Selena: Female; Selena: Performing Arts\Performer\Musician\Singer; Selena: Performing Arts\Performer; Portrait

Place: United States\Texas\Nueces\Corpus Christi

Medium: Gelatin silver print
Dimensions: Image: 33.2 x 25.9 cm (13 1/16 x 10 3/16"); Sheet: 33.9 x 26.6 cm (13 3/8 x 10 1/2"); Mat: 50.8 x 40.6 cm (20 x 16")

Data Source: National Portrait Gallery

Restrictions & Rights: Usage conditions apply

Type: Photograph

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