Connect What is your favorite type of art to create?

My favorite art to make is mixed-media collage using old Marlboro ads, vintage magazine cutouts, and real cigarettes. I like transforming materials tied to advertising and consumption into something more personal, textured, and a little ironic.

Where do you find inspiration?

I find inspiration in vintage cigarette ads, especially the Marlboro Man, who I see as both an icon and a kind of personal hero. In my work, I use cigarettes as a metaphor for hardship and endurance. Each part of the cigarette represents something different—the flame is the start of a struggle or a moment of intensity, the smoke reflects how things can feel fleeting or out of control, the ash represents what’s left behind after going through something difficult. the slow burning killer

What would you do with $25,000?

I would use the $25,000 to finish school and become an art teacher. I work at the same Title I school I attended, supporting many migrant students who face academic and financial challenges. I want to create a space where art helps them feel seen and supported. I would also give back to my school through supplies or student support, and use part of the funds to pay off my educational expenses.