I was born and raised on the west and north sides of Denver. I’ve been drawing since I could pick up a crayon, and I’m 100% self-taught, with a curious and creative mind. I’ve always tried to capture the world around me, from cartoons to cars to the realities of incarceration and mental illness. Through Impact Arts, Unchained Voices and other organizations, I’ve been honored to participate in exhibitions that explore prison spaces and the people within them, including shows at SUNY Fredonia, the Museum of Art Fort Collins, the Colorado State Capitol, and a mural project in Denver’s RiNo Art District. My Chicano culture, my lived experience, and my mental health journey inspire much of my work. Art helps me survive; it lifts me out of difficult conditions and allows me to express who I am and who I’m becoming. I hope people see my art and understand that, even with a painful past, I’m still growing, still human, and still striving to leave behind a legacy of change.