2024 October Winners

Thank you to everyone for your support and/or participation in this contest. It could not have happened without your support! I look forward to seeing you in the next one :-)

It’s been a while, but I was thrilled to announce the return of our beloved art contests. After a several year long hiatus filled with self-reflection, challenges, and growth, I am incredibly excited to bring this popular event back to life.

My mission remains steadfast: to shine a spotlight on the often-overlooked and smaller yet exceptionally talented artists within our communities. This event is not just a contest but a celebration of creativity and artistic expression.

I’m honored to be hosting these contests again and can’t wait to see the remarkable artworks you’ll share. Here’s to new beginnings and to celebrating the artistic brilliance that resides in our own communities.

The theme of this contest: Mirrors & Mirages. Perspective shapes our understanding in today’s chaotic world. Explore the nature of reality, perception, and deception through your artwork. Delve into the interplay between reflections and illusions, and examine the fine line between what is real and what is not. Let your creativity reveal how mirrors and mirages transform our view of truth and fantasy.

Winners

First Place - Rachel Deveyra

Envious Child

As a child, I was jealous of Barbie's perfect figure with her long legs and small waist. In this piece, the mirror reveals a young Filipino-American playing with and observing a naked Barbie doll. The use of pink and red are girly colors in the foreground, but in that mirror, green, the color of envy, shines through, showing what is taking place behind.

14.1" x 20" @rachel_deveyra.arts

Second Place - Emily Liu

Glasses

For much of my life, I’ve felt like I don’t fit anywhere. I’m not quite Chinese, but I’m not American enough to be American; I’m not quite normal, but I’m not weird enough to be weird. To top it all off, I’ve spent several years at odds with myself, worshipping others’ expectations even as I tried to resist them. The ensuing battle shattered me, riddling my world with fragments of missed opportunities—“Glasses” is my attempt to describe how it feels.

8.5" x 11" @emilyyliu23

Third Place - Annikah Idovia

Self Portrait Decomposition Stage 7

In "Self Portrait Decomposition Stage 7," I explore the tension between perception and reality shaped by my experiences with chronic health issues, numerous operations, and surgeries. Using a mirror to study my reflection, I confront the complexities of what it means to inhabit a body that has been altered and reshaped over time. My self-portrait goes beyond surface appearance, revealing the internal struggle and transformation accompanying these physical changes. Nature reclaims my body via plants and insects, challenging the fear of death and decay in Western culture. I argue that the decay is beautiful and its ephemerality should be cherished.

18" x 24" @annikahidovia