What is your favorite type of art to create?

I create immersive paintings and installations that function like constructed stage sets; spaces where perception shifts and meaning emerges through illusion, symbolism, and abstraction. My work is not about producing new objects, but about creating new ways of seeing. Recently, I’ve been developing a body of work that confronts my colorblindness, using it not as a limitation but as a tool to question how color, perception, and reality are constructed.

Where do you find inspiration?

My practice grew from a shift away from the idea of novelty toward a change in perspective. I see art as a form of catharsis, a way to process the contradictions of the self. I “fish” for images/signs in the subconscious, following fragments that assemble into a path forward. I draw from sacred symbolism, literature, and lived experience, from William Blake and Dante to pre-Columbian cultures, Havana, and Los Angeles.

What would you do with $25,000?

I would use the funds to stabilize and build out my studio, addressing structural issues and upgrading equipment to support production. This space is essential for producing and developing my new body of work centered on perception and colorblindness. I would also launch accessible art classes for children, creating a sustainable environment where experimentation, confidence, and creative thinking are actively cultivated within the community.