Art, in its purest form, is ethereal—magnetic enough to pull us beyond the ordinary. In a world built to exhaust and contain us, being whimsy is an act of rebellion. To create is to resist. I’ve built an inner world so vast it feels almost cryptic—but through art, I give it form, and in doing so, I set something within me free.

I believe artists are trying to reconnect with the way we saw the world as a child. I gain inspiration from nature, women, moonlight, music, and film—especially Destino. Inspiration finds me in the mirror of life, we are constantly reflecting our consciousness back to us. It’s the desire to engage with the process. It begins with a yearning to set my art in motion—pencil to paper.

I would create stability. The first thing I’d do is get an apartment, a warm space where Theo and I could be still. I am the epitome of a starving artist—I see the full picture of the world. It would feel like a divine miracle to receive this award; I’d go back to school, use it as a safety net. I want to be the change I want to see in the world. Above all, I want to help heal it.