Brandon Lopez, ‘Untitled’ (2024) and ‘Mesoamerican Dream’ (2023)
DESCRIPTION: “When I think of how to move beyond our current reality I can’t help but think of those who came before me. Whether that means painting familiar scenes or visions of a precolonial past, it makes me reflect on my place in society. These two paintings make me think of what once existed, where I’m going, and what I contribute to my community.”
Miranda Santiago, ‘La Tiendita’, 2022
DESCRIPTION: “Tiendita explores the cultural dissonance that is felt when torn between the borders of Mexican American girlhood. In my room, the place I feel most safe and at home, I carry with me the sense of home that I also feel when walking through the streets of Mexican markets in San Cristobal. Looking up to my idols, I think maybe they felt similarly.”