I create to explore transformation... Through fire, destruction, and restoration, where identity reshapes and stories of becoming unfold.
You decide who will appear in Artforum Magazine, take home $25,000, and display their work at The Art of Elysium's Salon!
Lately, I create drawings that become the foundation for future paintings, embracing raw surfaces and instinctive mark-making. I often burn my paintings as part of the process, an act of destruction that becomes transformation. These works capture thought in motion, where ideas emerge freely. They feel like the soul before the vessel, holding the energy that evolves into painting.
Where do you find inspiration?I find inspiration in people—friends, family, strangers, coworkers, and especially my students, past and present. Through the chaos of life, we share a quiet resilience and the will to keep going. My work may appear dark, but within it are moments of relief... traces of hope emerging through rubble, transformation rising from struggle.
What would you do with $25,000?As an educator, I would invest in my students. The art department at Texas Southern University is small but deeply diverse, with students carrying powerful stories. I would provide tools, materials, and workspace resources that expand their creative potential. I’d also create opportunities for exhibitions, giving them real-world experience and confidence as they transition beyond the classroom.
Vote for Robert Riojas III 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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