Through my involvement with the National Arts Honors Society, I participated in several projects that contributed to my community and enriched my vision as a creative. The most transformative experience was my work with the Youth Art for Healing non-profit. An organization based in Maryland that works with youth to create art for healthcare environments. I contributed two landscape paintings that are now displayed in hospitals, providing comfort and hope to patients and their families. One painting features a house in a flower field, while the other depicts a serene lake with colorful mountains and boats. This experience made me realize the positive impact art can have on people and how art can be a tool for healing. It sparked a desire in me to continue to be involved in programs that benefit my community and that create a social impact. In the future, I see myself not only expressing myself through art, but creating it to a certain extent that helps my community and engages them with transformative and impactful art projects. I want art to be the means to speak to people, leave positive messages, and bring joy. I want to serve my community with art by painting murals with positive messages and by having an organization for kids to use the arts to heal, especially in vulnerable communities in Colombia impacted by violence and poverty. I want to give them hope and a tool to heal and change the world for the better.

One of my most treasured experiences is watching and playing the Colombian game “parqués” with my great aunts. The game is filled with silly fights, hearty laughter, the rhythmic sound of the dice rolling against the board, the comforting aroma of coffee, and the thrill of friendly competition. Parqués is the Colombian version of Parcheesi, a game where the objective is to move all your pieces to the finish line and compete for first place. The game board is encased in a glass-covered box and adorned with vibrant cultural imagery, such as singers, soccer teams, traditional foods, and other symbols of Colombian heritage. Nearly every Colombian family possesses a parqués set, making it a staple during family gatherings and a beloved tradition. This memory inspired my favorite artwork, titled "Parqués Game After Lunch". Created in December 2023, it is a 36” x 24” acrylic and oil painting on stretched canvas. The two women depicted in the painting are my great aunts, who maintain the tradition of playing parqués every day after lunch with a cup of coffee. This piece holds a special place in my heart because it commemorates those precious moments that remind me of the people I love and it celebrates an important aspect of my culture. For this painting, I drew inspiration from fauvism and the literary genre of magical realism. The isometric perspective, the tropical plants, and the vibrant colors reflect my rich culture and the magical essence of family gatherings.

I was born in Bogota, Colombia. The non-stopping chaos, the contrast between modern and colonial, and the diverse culture impacted my view of the world and inspired me to become an artist. As a child, I became obsessed with Colombian artists such as Fernando Botero and started learning how to draw. When I moved to the United States at 12 years old, I continued to create art and started searching for my unique artistic voice. I found a passion for celebrating my culture and identity in my artwork through expressive techniques such as mark-making and vibrant colors. I mostly began painting in acrylic and oil on canvas, often depicting quotidian Latin American women who I look up to with tropical and architectural elements. In my junior and senior years of high school, I participated in the National Arts Honors Society where I worked with two non-profits. I created two landscape paintings for hospitals for the Youth Art for Healing non-profit and three portrait paintings for kids in Cameroon and India for the Memory Project non-profit. These two experiences showed me firsthand the positive impact that art can have on people’s lives and made me want to continue participating in projects that benefit my community. In the future, I intend to make a positive impact on the world with my art by creating impactful art projects that benefit my community in the United States and in Colombia. I want art to be the means to speak to people, leave positive messages, and bring joy. I want to serve my community with art by painting murals with positive messages and by having an organization for kids to use the arts as a way of healing. Especially in vulnerable communities in Colombia impacted by violence and poverty. I want to use art as a way to bring people together and change the negative perspective of my country. Through my experiences as an artist, I have learned how art is a way of healing and renewing, so I think that art could be an important instrument to heal, and bring peace, and reconciliation to these children and communities who have been affected by trauma and violence. Most importantly, write a new future for them where kindness and creativity are what drive them into a better future. Thank you for considering my application.

My greatest achievement to date has to be winning the Congressional Art Competition for Maryland’s 8th district with my painting titled “Tia Mona” in 2022. As a Colombian girl who moved to the United States when I was 12, it was difficult adapting to a new environment. I often doubted myself and questioned my potential to excel in another country. My single mother and I struggled financially and emotionally, questioning our decision to come to the United States. One of my biggest motivators was my art. In middle school, I always carried my sketchbook to every class, finding joy and comfort in drawing. My art teacher saw my potential and encouraged me to join a magnet art program in high school. I worked hard to develop a portfolio and entered the Visual Arts Center magnet program at Albert Einstein High School. In high school, I found a community and began searching for my voice as an artist. However, I encountered self-doubt with my art, especially, as college applications approached. In 2022, my mother broke the news that she had to return to Colombia due to certain circumstances, leaving me to live alone during my senior year. Terrified about living alone with no family and uncertain about the future, I scrolled through my camera roll, remembering my times in Colombia. I stumbled upon a picture of my great-aunt and remembered when she used to take care of me as a child. I remembered the times we ate tangerines in the park, played in the rain, sang, and cooked together. Feeling nostalgic, I recalled what I most admire about her: her strength, resilience, and ability to uplift me when I felt down. I then took a canvas and began painting her. With no competition or classwork in mind. Just a desire to celebrate her, celebrate Colombian women, and honor an important chapter of my life. Using vibrant colors and expressive brushstrokes, I represented her vibrant personality. I painted her face carefully with a serious expression, capturing her strong and serious persona. When I had finished my painting, my teachers from my program announced the congressional art competition and encouraged us to apply. I chose the painting of my aunt because it meant a lot to me and I thought it was a strong piece. Sadly, I did not have much faith in myself, as I knew it was a very competitive competition. Despite this, I wanted to give it a try. On the day of the ceremony, they announced that my painting had won and that it was going to be hung in the U.S. Congress for a year. I could not believe I had won and could not wait to tell my aunt the exciting news. When I was awarded, my mother jumped out of excitement, and told me, “You see, believe in yourself; you are a great artist!.” Unfortunately, my aunt could not come to the United States to see the painting, but my mother went to see it at the Congress with me a few months before she departed back home. Winning this award taught me to believe in myself and my talent. It taught me that despite not being able to win every single time, I still need to be confident and believe I have the potential to achieve my dreams because if I never step out of my comfort zone and try, I will never know what I am capable of. Through my last year of high school, I continued to believe in myself and was able to get into my dream college. At times I struggled, but I always reminded myself of my accomplishments and that whatever happens, I am resilient like my aunt and my mother. I know that an unknown future awaits. Thanks to this experience, I am not letting the haunting future destroy me; instead, I am going to fight for my dreams and see what else I can accomplish. In the future, I envision myself exhibiting in galleries, celebrating my heritage, and sharing with the world my love for my culture. I also see myself participating in social work as a way to give back. I want to serve my community with art through paintings with positive messages and by using the arts as a way of healing, particularly in vulnerable communities in Colombia impacted by violence and poverty. Thank you for considering my application