Pennsylvania photographer Cielito Mercado Vivas returns to her childhood kitchen in Philadelphia, where family recipes carry cultural identity from one generation to the next.
“This photograph was made in my childhood kitchen in Philadelphia and captures my mother and sister preparing my late father’s take on pancit molo, a traditional Filipino dish. It is part of my first book, ‘Family Preserves.’”
FIND THE PHOTO
Billboard coming soon—watch this space for updates as we celebrate this photographer and their work on their own billboard in their state.
“I’ve been fortunate that my photography career has taken me around the globe. As a Philly kid raised by immigrants, being featured on this scale is surreal. Representing Pennsylvania feels deeply grounding, proof that no matter how far my work takes me, there’s truly no place like home.”
ABOUT THE PHOTOGRAPHER
Born and raised in Philadelphia with a name most people can’t pronounce, Cielito (/sh'lee·toh/) Mercado Vivas began photographing as a child, when her father handed her a camera.
After earning a BFA in Photography and New Media from Penn State University, she built a 20-year career as an award-winning travel and portrait photographer. Driven by an unwavering curiosity and a passion for storytelling, she aims to illuminate the soul of her wide range of subjects, from cooks to iconoclasts to neighborhoods.
She is also the author of her debut photography book, Family Preserves: Home-Cooked Stories from Immigrant Kitchens (Daylight Books, 2026).
