The ability and the drive to create comes from a desire to express myself and connect with something greater than myself.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
I like to create photos that help me see the world anew, and create connections - connection with people, community, and the surroundings. When I am doing portraits for my Latinx Portraits series or adventuring doing street photography, what resonates with me trying to capture the essence of a person or a place within that moment.
Where do you find inspiration?Photography found me in a serious way after losing my wife in 2018. What had been a casual pastime became something I leaned into for healing, for connection, and eventually for community. That journey led to two ongoing projects: Latinx Portraits, a long-term portrait series highlighting the diverse and rich stories/people that make up the Latino community; and Community Through the Lens, an initiative that uses photography to create connections.
What would you do with $25,000?Through a local grant, I founded Community Through the Lens — using photography to build community and elevate local voices. With $25,000, I'd expand the initiative: offering free professional photo sessions for artists and community members who can't afford them, connecting photographers through workshops, and creating printed materials and portraits that give participants something tangible to keep and share
Vote for Community Through The Lens 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.
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