I explore self discovery through mixed media, collage, acrylics and thread to express identity and inspire others to find their own.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
I love creating mixed media art because it lets me bring together everything I am. I paint with acrylics, add collage, textures, and sometimes thread. Each piece feels like a conversation with myself. I don’t always know what I’m expressing until I finish, and then it becomes clear. Color guides me, almost intuitively. Sewing into the canvas feels like healing, like reconnecting broken parts. My art is not just visual, it is emotional, a way to understand myself.
Where do you find inspiration?The inspiration for my work comes from my emotions and shifting moods. It feels like an inner dialogue that guides me toward color and texture. More than the final result, what moves me is exploring emotion through each choice. Creating is not about control, but about allowing something to emerge. In that process, art becomes a catharsis, a way to express, transform, and understand what I feel.
What would you do with $25,000?With this award, I could bring to life a project where I unite art and healing. I would love to do it through an illustrated book, where ancestral stories become a space for emotional catharsis and reflection. Through these narratives, I explore wounds and feelings we can all recognize. It would not only be a personal project, but something I wish to offer in service to others who resonate with this journey.
Vote for ADRIANA BARRERA to become The People's Artist while supporting a great cause! Cast your free daily vote or make an even bigger impact when you vote by donation, supporting The Art of Elysium in their mission to use art as a catalyst to help people triumph over difficult life challenges.
Limited-time: 2X votes ends on Tue 5/12 at 9PM PDT
Register now for your opportunity to appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display your artwork at The Art of Elysium's Salon.
Colossal is a nationally registered professional fundraiser that inspires people to advocate for themselves and those in need. Through online competitions like The People's Artist, Colossal offers participants the opportunity to make their mark while also making a big impact.
