Cartagena is interested in the "effects of suburban sprawl on population growth and the environment in his home city" of Monterrey, Mexico. For Carpoolers (2014) he photographed construction workers from above, travelling to work along Mexican Federal Highway 85 in the back of their contractors' trucks, in 2011. Highway 85 links the city centre and its wealthier parts with the surrounding suburban sprawl.[6]
Publications
Books of work by Cartagena
Suburbia Mexicana. Daylight/Photolucida, 2010. ISBN9780983231608. With an introduction by Karen Irvine, an essay by Gerardo Montiel Klint and a transcript of an interview by Lisa Uddin. Edition of 2000 copies.[7]
Before the War. Self-published, 2015. Edition of 200 copies.
Headshots. Self-published, 2015.
Santa Barbara Return Jobs Back to US. Skinnerboox, 2016. ISBN9788894134124. With an essay by Jonathan Blaustein. Edition of 500 copies.[11][12]
Rivers of Power. Newwer, 2016. ISBN9780996669719. Edition of 500 copies.
A Guide to Infrastructure and Corruption. Velvet Cell, 2017. ISBN978-1-908889-53-9. Edition of 500 copies.
Santa Barbara Shame on US. Skinnerboox, 2017. ISBN978-88-94895-05-6. With an essay by Blaustein. Edition of 500 copies.[13]
A Small Guide to Homeownership: Case Study: Mexico. Velvet Cell 2020. With essays by Fernando Gallegos and Cartagena. First edition, first printing. First edition, second printing edition of 600 copies.[7][14]
Santa Barbara Save US. Skinnerboox, 2020. ISBN978-88-94895-41-4. With an essay by Blaustein. Edition of 800 copies.