"Much of the land where we have built our homes, shops and communities was once native land. The land was filled with mother nature's beauty. This happens to native land all over the country. We must recognize what was there before we called it home. The plants I drew represent the buildings that we are living in. They are apartment complexes, stores, corporate offices. Although the San Fernando Valley is always looking to improve itself, many of the natives from the valley have moved to areas with low cost rent because of the changes that are being made."

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My name is Litzy Del Valle, a 19 year old Chicana born and raised native of the San Fernando Valley. I am currently in my 3rd year of college transferring from Los Ángeles Valley College to Cal State University Northridge. As I pursue a career in public policy to promote Higher Education in my community, I also partake in painting for small commission opportunities.

"For this piece we wanted to explore social justice in relation to current events. We collectively decided to show solidarity and support to the Black Lives Matter movement. We were inspired by the concept of 'ideas sprouting like seeds.' The idea is conveyed throughout the design, comparing bees to activists (pollinating aka sharing ideas) to other flowers (people)."

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Christian Gonzalez is majoring in the BA Art program at CSUN with concentration in illustration. As an illustrator, Christian draws inspiration from pop culture, fashion and editorials.

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Juliann Hong was born in South Korea and she is currently a CSUN illustration student. She enjoys creating art that focuses on narrative and the complexity of human nature.

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Kaitlyn McCarthy is a CSUN art major with a focus in illustration. Her interests include dogs and peanut butter.

"This design was created within the theme of Social Justice - specifically the rights of women. I wanted to create something positive and colorful that celebrates the strength of females. The piece features text which states, 'Ladies, you are powerful.' The font and colors used evoke 2nd wave feminism and protests signs of the 60's and 70's. "

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Born and raised in the northwestern woods of New Jersey, Elizabeth Caparaz currently lives and works in Los Angeles, California. Her illustrations encompass everything from pop culture references, detailed portraits and fanciful floral designs. Her unique hand drawn style received praise by the Los Angeles Times with her Artist's Notebooks featured in the 2018 Gift Guide. In addition, her artwork has been exhibited in galleries including the Mystic Museum, Ten Women Gallery and Los Angeles County Store. She holds a BA in Fine Arts from Montclair State University.

"This piece is titled 'Express Through Art.' On one side you will notice a face done similarly in the style of Pablo Picasso's cubist face series using the same color scheme as the artist Mondrian. In the other panels you will see a pencil and a paintbrush. In the last panel there is a pain pallet in the shape of someone's face looking almost surprised with a smile on their face, with some primary colors. The design hopes to invoke thoughts in its viewers and connect cubist modern art with contemporary art."

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I was born in Burbank, California in 1996. After earning my AA degree from Pasadena City College, I moved to Northridge, where I now reside and am studying to become an Art Educator and designer at California State University Northridge. My artwork pulls from my experiences as a skater and as a person that seeks to combat all types of “-isms” and stereotypes such as racism and sexism through the use of sarcasm, humor, and contemporary design

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"In order to enact real change and deliver social justice to marginalized communities, we need to be educating ourselves and taking action. My artwork is a call to action. A call to learn with an empathetic mind and reject hateful rhetorics. A call to keep you eyes open and your voice loud. I use bright pinks and bold lettering to add an eye-catching feminine edge to this important message. Eyes are a recurring theme in most of my pieces because I want people to feel seen when they see my art."

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Los Angeles-based artist Ari Nichole is best known for her deep and moody visual work. Raised in the suburbs of Chicago, she taught herself how to work with graphite, charcoal and watercolor. Shortly after graduating high school, she relocated to Southern California where she began to work with oil, ink and digital art. Her work is dark, authentic and heavily influenced by a fierce woman's perspective.

"In recent years I have participated in demonstrations and marches, and my art work has consequently amplified those stories and voices. This imagery is about the voices of the next generation, the 
power that they hold, and a belief that they are capable of solving the problems that we face today. It also revolves around listening to the youth and doing our best to leave this world in the best shape that we can for them. Like JR said in his 2011 Ted Talk, art does have the power to change the world."

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hero (Los Angeles, CA) is a contemporary artists that creates socially charged images with his blend of mixed media and spray paint. While acquiring his degree in film, his schooling introduced him to notable artists from the 20th century. His passion for graffiti and street art took him to the alley ways and aqueducts in Los Angeles, where he was introduced to some of the most infamous graffiti artists. His vast influences have inspired him to focus on the process of creation and the evolution of self exploration. He has been known to create paintings using everything from smoke bombs to designer fabrics. 

"In this piece, I want to represent that we are all the same no matter our background or skin color. We are all from the same family."

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At the moment I am a stay-at-home mom who loves painting and creative thinking. I hope you guys like this piece that I created!

"A young woman sits at the edge of the world as city lights fall away and ocean waves create a cloud of mist, everything falls silent. When everything is stripped away we are reminded that we are just animals like the creatures that crawl at the edges of our city. We are no different than they are. As the woman sits, a coyote approaches unafraid. It's a reminder to us that we must continue to respect our lands and everything that has life in this world. "

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I grew up in the valley at the corner of Chase St. and Reseda. I spent my whole life outdoors surrounded by nature and long days in the pool. When I wasn't outdoors I was enthralled in science fiction stories that made me dream of a bigger world to come. My work is greatly influenced by my experiences as a child. I like to twist aspects of myths from around the world with the experiences of women. I am now currently 27 years old and working as a visual art teacher pursuing an art career.

"The image shows the development of the Los Angeles landscape. First we see the California poppy next to the ocean and a golden hill. Next we see a harmonious combination of opposite forces: masculine (man looking down in defeat) and feminine (female looking up in hope_, sun and moon, indigenous housing (acknowledging the original people of this land) and a church. We see agricultural fields with farm workers in the distance and a fist raising up in a sign of protest for their rights. In the back we see our beloved city with its iconic city hall, palm trees and freeway. On top, there is the word 'Progress.' At the bottom is a call for justice with the word 'Justicia' held by the people. All this takes place under our lucky stars."

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Born in the US, but raised in Mexico City, I am a proud Mexican American. As an educated Latina with a Master of Public Health from California State University, Northridge, I believe that education is a catalyst for change. I am a researcher who studies social determinants of health in order to promote equity in the Latinx community. As young mother from a low-income section of North Hills, I am committed to make my community better through civic engagement.

"My design consists of a womxn laying on grass with a mountain range behind and a night sky filled with stars. For this piece I wanted to focus on the serene and peaceful nights when one feels connected to themselves and their surroundings. My image highlights that exact feeling I get when I work on my art and am allowed the opportunity to destress during the process. It reflects what my mind feels like during this process of working. I want to bring that same love and energy to the city, allowing neighbors to find a moment in their lives they can also feel at peace with themselves."

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Jackie Hernandez is a twenty year old artist born and raised in Los Angeles, California. She is currently attending California State University Long Beach studying Studio Art with a minor in Printmaking. She works with various mediums of art such as painting, printmaking, animation, illustration and murals. Her work depicts fierce womxn on journeys to healing while expressing themselves with the style of clothing they wear or makeup looks.

"This piece was inspired by recent events and the centuries long struggles of black and brown people. The fist is a symbol of resistance in the face of hatred and oppression as well as a symbol of strength and unity. The butterflies represent the beauty and strength of immigrants. Lastly, the words 'Be the Change' are meant to inspire people to be the change they want to see in the world and participate in the fight against hatred."

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My name is Lucia Saldivar-Lozano, I am a 20 year old college student at California State University Northridge. I am majoring in art with an emphasis in graphic design and I am also a self taught avid painter who loves to tackle different projects and mediums. I am a proud Chicana who was born and raised in the San Fernando Valley, I am proud to call this place my home.

"Each plane portrays a faceless same-sex couple. For the female couple, 'Always Enough' is a reminder that girls', especially WOCs, self-worth are not determined by what they can give to others or what is expected of them. The male couple has 'Always Valid' as a reminder that boys, especially POCs, are not any less of a person by not following standard 'masculine' roles. The sides each have flowers as a reminder to treat themselves gently."

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Denise San Jose is a Filipino, LA based student currently enrolled at CSUN pursuing a major in animation. Her inspiration stems from dreamlike visuals as she combines green foliage and semi-sensual portraiture to convey momentary human emotions and address mental states. Denise's current goal is to become part of a team that creates children's cartoon shows that will not only become a definitive part of their childhood but inspire at a young age.

"My Streetbox Art depicts four different people holding their preferred tool of expression. In this design we have someone playing the guitar, someone holding a palette and paintbrush, another is taking a photograph, and the other person is holding up a pencil. Within these figures are blooming plants and greenery. The arts are not simply the visual, audible, or tangible things we create, but the emotions and feelings it exerts from us. Through our preferred medium, whether that be music, creative
writing, dance, visual arts, healing arts, and beyond, we are able to express ourselves and
bloom."

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Andrea Lopez is a 25 year old Latinx artist and musician from the Northeast San Fernando Valley in Sylmar, CA. She graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz in 2017 with a B.A. in Psychology and is currently working at the cultural arts center Tia Chucha’s Centro Cultural & Bookstore, where she coordinates and teaches art and music classes.

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"This image shows the Earth in the shape of a heart with the words “Help Wanted” in the middle. On one side the word 'Love' is in sign language, the other side 'Peace' is in sign language. Earth is at risk of climate change and global warming, but communities that are underserved are already experiencing various environmental health issues due to climate change and less likely to recover than others. We need to focus on climate equity and reduce these inequalities."

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I am a 29yr old queer artist that identifies as she/her. Since a young age I suffered from depression and anxiety, I always turned to art to help me cope and get my feelings out, that I otherwise have trouble expressing. I work part-time as the Operations Coordinator for the nonprofit organization Muralism, dedicated to connecting people with special needs to the community through art. Muralism allows me to learn from other, more experienced artists, and help others express themselves through art.