In this artwork, I portrayed Adriana immersed in the present, allowing herself to enjoy the fragrant carnations. With her eyes closed, she breathes in the warmth of the scent, her senses flowing in harmony with the world around her and her own body. Layers of branches veil her enigmatic surroundings, yet she remains at peace, serene in the embrace of Vancouver's native plants. On her arm, close to her heart, she carries the treasured memories of Colombia's beaches.

"Hand on the Heart"

This piece features a human figure drawn with ink on paper in a single continuous line, depicting the hand, heart, and main body axis of the model. The inspiration comes from a photo of the participant sitting with her legs semi-crossed, holding flowers in her right hand. The pressure applied to the bouquet creates a sense of balance and harmony in the moment, which is captured in this first sketch.

"Retrahere: 'To Bring Back"

The title refers to the Latin word retractus, meaning "to bring back." In my process of making art, thought and reflection are integrated into the sensory world; it is the "think-feel-do-dialogue" of the world of things. Being able to look at our faces is a marvelous act. We don't have photographs of our ancestors, but it is very likely that we are their living portrait.

In pre-Columbian cultures, there are these ancient time capsules. Could it be that our faces still carry the same features, the same smiles?

Constellations on a Face

The "Ancestral Woman of the Future" emerges when zooming in on the landscape of the skin—scars, expression lines of age, moles, sunspots—marks of the passage of time. I believe it is necessary to build beyond what is apparent, and so Luz Andrea and I met to recreate ourselves for a while and bond. Gabriel was our art assistant.

Human beings are natural collectors. The frenzy of the fast-paced rhythm of modern societies makes everything constantly renew itself: "Consume and discard." We can stop the devastation of the world—jungles, forests, seas, glaciers—if only we would stop to breathe and revisit ancient human knowledge. We will all recover that wisdom.

“Somos indios latinos con guitarras eléctricas, comunicados a través internet”.

"Susana in Bloom" is a work that shows its protagonist living in the present with a deeply hopeful and positive outlook, despite having left many things behind that she will surely never stop missing, and finding herself in a new stage marked by challenges and adaptation.

Thanks to her charisma, bravery, perseverance, and strength, the seeds she planted some time ago have now transformed into a lush and dense garden.

Colombia will always be in her heart, symbolically represented in this illustration, and the open doors to this abundant garden are the world of possibilities that lie ahead of her.

I hope that when Susana looks at this work, especially in moments of frustration or sorrow, she remembers that what she has already achieved is extraordinary and that she never stops believing in herself and her great abilities to achieve each of her dreams.

The hope of migrant women is intertwined with dreams and processes of reconstruction. They weave new stories, layer by layer, as if each one were small and almost invisible, yet essential when combined. Each layer, though solitary, contributes to the whole, creating a strength that is only revealed when the layers come together.

This illustration, inspired by Leonor and created by Danilo Sanchez as part of a collaboration with Libélula Coop, represents the journey of self-love and self-discovery. The piece draws from the energy in her photographs, particularly one where she is captured mid-jump in a park. This moment inspired me to reimagine her in my personal cartoon style, amplifying the free spirit and bravery it takes to make the "scary jump" of recognizing one's self-worth. Created using digital techniques and presented as a digital print, the playful and interpretative approach reflects her vibrant energy, transforming a fleeting moment into a deeper exploration of empowerment and joy.

Teresa is a 17 years-old Mexican immigrant discovering herself in Vancouver, Canada, after moving with her family. She embodies resilience and self-love, trusting deeply in her inner strength. A romantic at heart, she adores pastel colors and the delicate beauty of roses and tulips. Her memories of home are tied to the heartfelt songs she grew up with, and her hometown remains a place that will always feel like home. As she embraces the diversity and opportunities of her new life in Canada, Teresa is building connections that complement her roots, blossoming into a bicultural young woman with a rich, dual identity.

The circular elements evoke a sense of movement, symbolizing life’s ever-turning cycles and the natural flow of growth, much like the melody of a cherished song. The flowers she holds in her hands and carries in her pocket represent the beauty and strength deeply rooted in her heritage, a tribute to the love and resilience she brings from home. These blooms also whisper of untold wonders—dreams, kindness, and creativity—waiting to unfold as she navigates her path. Together, they weave a story of continuity and promise, a reflection of her past and the boundless gifts she has yet to share.

In this painting, Leslee is looking at a monarch butterfly. I wanted to include this butterfly in her portrait because it represents transformation, hope and change. During her interview, she admitted that since moving to Canada, she had stopped prioritizing herself in the same way. Leslee explained: “When I was in Colombia, I used to dedicate time to myself. Here, it’s been difficult to do the same. I put my children first. I understand it’s not because I don’t love myself, but because of the changes I am going through right now, which take up a lot of my time.”

Through this piece, Leslee’s story unfolds—one of transformation, adaptation and the ongoing challenge of balancing self-care with the demands of her new life.

After hearing Diana’s interview, what stood out the most from her was how genuine she is with other people, she has an energy that’s gentle and friendly like flowers, but not with herself. The road to self love can be quite blurry, but over time one can find an internal comfort, a place of peace. Which I associate with rugs, a space of security and relaxation. Both Diana and other women are currently exploring this road, where they’ll soon find their safe place.

This painting is a portrait of Kaitlyn Wong. While Listening to Kaitlyn's interview on self love I got a sense of wonder from her in the way she spoke of things. Wonder for life and the world around her, along with an outlook of positivity. Immigrating to a new country is a hard journey, but it can also be a beautiful growing Opportunity where you find your self confidence and bloom into the person you were meant to be through trials. This is what my painting focuses on.

Arriving in a new country can be a challenging experience, but it is also full of bright opportunities. Although the loss of identity, family, and traditions can be overwhelming, looking toward the sun is an act of hope. Adriana has two sunflowers (daughters) who inspire her to look toward the sun and see how they open up to the world that welcomes them with open arms. Although starting over brings its difficulties, embracing light, joy, and love can transform our path into one full of new and exciting experiences. Nothing blooms in stagnant water or in the darkness of the soul.

The story of Mariana and her mother began several years ago when they left their native Colombia for Canada, where we were lucky enough to meet them and form a beautiful friendship. Mariana has always been characterized by her long, blonde hair and according to her own reflections, the road was full of new experiences, new friendships and being able to meet many people from different cities and countries, which enriched Mariana and her mother, and I help her build that self-love that strengthens her every day.

With this portrait of Mariana, I want to reflect what she absorbed along her path, such as the different types of leaves and flowers that she carries in her hair, which represents the different types of experiences and people, including some thorns as she describes, but at the same time they show a spectacular Empowered Mariana.

Enigmatic, mysterious, unique and otherworldly. She stands tall and proud, firmly sustained by the ancestral territory she now calls home and deeply rooted in her profound wisdom, essence and truth. An old soul. So many stories she carries. So many deaths and rebirths she has experienced. So many hopes and dreams she holds dear in her heart.

A woman of courage and determination: She braves the storm with resilience and holds her head up with confidence, as she lovingly paves the way to a brighter and promising future for herself and her offspring. Creative, sensitive, peaceful and wise, she captures your heart with her rare beauty and joyful spirit, as she effortlessly unveils her free, abundant and serene self before you. Surprising, uplifting and everly inspiring, she is a one of a kind human being, a gentle and luminous soul: A true Blue Rose.