Portrait of an Angeleno

Portrait of an Angeleno, Gouache, 18x24”, 2025

The political landscape of 2025 in the US has been nothing short of horrifying and alarming. The one thing keeping me sane has been pouring my love into my artwork and the people around me who I love. My favorite part of growing up in SoCal was the cultural diversity of the people around me. It felt like a place where anyone could belong and being a third culture kid was the norm. I have an immense love of my home state and its cultural blend of wonderful people. I feel very privileged to not only be apart of it’s colorful history but also have friends that embody the very best of our beautiful home. Sofia Masuda has been my friend since college and I feel very lucky to have crossed paths with her. She is the essence of an Angeleno, prideful of her Japanese and Mexican heritage, colorful and kind, and most importantly a true friend. The power of female friendship is not lost on her and she stands for keeping LA a place everyone from any culture should belong. Watching ICE take over my beloved city has been devastating but people like Sofia are a reminder of what this place is truly about and gives me hope that one day everyone will understand that the true greatness of this country comes from its diversity.