I create to make the unseen felt, honoring identity, resilience, and the stories we carry so others can recognize themselves within it.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
I’m drawn to creating figurative work that carries quiet emotional weight. My paintings often begin instinctively, color, gesture, presence, and evolve into reflections on identity, memory, and resilience. I’m interested in the space between what is seen and what is felt, where everyday moments hold something deeper and more human.
Where do you find inspiration?I find inspiration in everyday life and in the people around me. Memory, movement, and quiet moments guide the work. I pay attention to small details, gestures, and expressions that often go unnoticed. There is also influence from history, culture, and my own lived experiences, all of which shape how I see and translate the world into form and color.
What would you do with $25,000?I would use the funds to sustain and deepen my practice. Having recently moved to Santa Fe and coming from a nonprofit background, I left a salaried role to commit fully to art over the past four years. This support would go toward studio space, materials, and time to create, while also allowing me to invest in a larger body of work and explore sculpture further. It would help me stay grounded in the work and continue building a life centered around it.
Vote for Eduardo Gardea 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.
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.
