Art gives me an outlet to express myself and show people how both beautiful and cruel the world is.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
I create story-driven art in acrylic, colored pencil, and charcoal. Each medium expresses different emotions: paint for heavy thoughts, colored pencil for joy and hope, charcoal for blending both. Many works are from a series exploring personal and family journeys; the blue-bowl piece reflects passed-down memories, and the others show a struggle to express my true self. I prefer misunderstood pieces that let viewers find their own meaning. Art’s value is that shared, personal, unique experience.
Where do you find inspiration?My inspiration comes from many places, mainly dreams and emotions too complex for words. When language fails, painting fills the gaps. Dreams offer distorted, meaningful perspectives that let me blend realism with surrealism. For me, painting is an act of enstasis, a journey inward to find oneself; this stillness confronts grief, anger, and joy while engaging others’ views. This balance lets me create images that reflect myself and the human experience.
What would you do with $25,000?I attend a university that doesn’t offer art classes, so I would use 50% to pay for outside schooling to continue my growth as an artist. The other 50% I would use to help me finish out my bachelor's degree in biology, releasing the pressure from my parents and me.
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