My piece depicts my mom and me in a sunlit living room. I drew myself as a child watching my mother work to combine all of our different cultures and lifestyles as Hispanic Americans. The sewing of flags represents this unification. I’m grateful to my parents for guiding me through life and teaching me how to live in the US while not forgetting my heritage.
This artwork is inspired by hope, because it is about acceptance and peeling away layers to share my real self is as male. It is about me opening myself up to the world, being myself so that I can be accepted and encourage others to feel brave enough to do the same.
This artwork shows a peaceful protest where people stand together holding signs, flowers, and flags instead of weapons. Their raised fists and calm presence emphasize nonviolent resistance and collective strength. The monarch butterfly symbolizes migration, resilience, and renewal, reflecting the ongoing movement of people and ideas. Set in Los Angeles, a city shaped by immigrant and Mexican communities, the scene highlights how unity and visibility can create a powerful sense of hope even during difficult times. It reflects how, today, communities continue to gather and speak out in response to ongoing immigration policies and social injustice.
As I grow older and experience more on my own, I realize that my hopes differ from the goals my parents have set for me. I wish that their expectations for me weren’t so rigid, because I often feel as if I lose my individuality when I try to fit into them.
On May 1st, 2025 President Donald Trump signed executive order 14290 titled ‘Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media.’ The intention of the order was to cease direct federal funding to the National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service, which resulted in a loss of $1.1 billion to these organizations.
My entry explores the emotional and psychological landscape of an individual living with Alzheimer’s disease. Inspired by my grandfather’s experience and my grandmother’s role as his sole caregiver, the piece sheds light on the often-overlooked struggles of empty-nest elderly individuals.
The deer represents the commodification of animals in human society, the belief that animals exist only for the pervasive needs or wants of humanity — for food, clothes, entertainment, spectacle, and the like. Animal rights are not often advocated for in spaces of hope and justice. It is important that we value our Earth and the other beings on it, despite our inability to verbally communicate with them. This piece of art brings into light the lack of respect toward animals.
My painting represents not being afraid to express yourself. When you start being yourself, your world begins to light up and you start to shine like a star. I want my artwork to show that you can do whatever makes you glow.
My painting focuses on the irony of machismo in Mexican culture involving the Virgin Mary (Aka the Virgen de Guadalupe). The Virgin Mary is a staple in Mexican society and is very well known and respected. The irony is that so many men will go to church worshipping and praying to this woman, but behind closed doors they’re ignoring the true meaning behind the Virgin Mary and treating the women in their own lives in ways that they would never treat the well-respected Virgin Mary.
My painting centers on the emotional concept of saudade – a profound, nostalgic feeling, which is conveyed through the image of a woman lying on a lake filled with beautiful flowers. The piece captures the bittersweet transition between childhood and adulthood and the emotional depth and discovery that happens during adolescence. Although sometimes feared, these changes make us stronger. The message celebrates the magical, raw emotions of youth that adults often forget and reminds us all of the importance of dreaming, feeling, and believing. The green ribbon laced over the woman represents a feeling of happiness and relaxation that helps us continue to grow.