I create Art to move people and help archive the times we’re in through art. I think it’s so important that we reflect the times.
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 large-scale sculptural installations using steel, rebar, and found materials. My work transforms cartoon forms and childhood symbols into monumental structures that explore war, cultural identity, labor, loss, and resilience. I’m drawn to physical materials that hold tension—metal bent by hand, welded forms, objects layered with history—because they carry both weight and vulnerability.
Where do you find inspiration?I find inspiration in lived experience—war, migration, labor, and childhood memory. I draw from cartoons, religious iconography, folklore, and everyday objects, reframing them to reflect cultural invisibility and inherited trauma. I’m inspired by materials themselves: rusted steel, construction rebar, broken toys—things that feel both fragile and enduring at the same time.
What would you do with $25,000?If awarded $25,000, I would donate a portion to support veterans through organizations like the Wounded Warrior Project. I would invest in cardboard cutting machines for the Palo Alto Art Center to expand access to hands-on creative tools for youth and families. The remaining funds would go toward professional fabrication equipment and materials to sustainably grow my sculptural practice.
Vote for John Contreras 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.
