Luna de Jesus Licea (b. 1996, Guadalajara, Mexico) is a self-taught painter whose artistic journey began after transitioning from Pastry and Culinary Arts to Visual Arts in 2018. Immigrating to the United States and moving to Los Angeles, CA, Licea’s immersion in the city’s art scene ignited a passion for painting, which he now uses to reclaim his heritage and empower others through culturally rich and colorful works. Drawing inspiration from the culture of Jalisco and the pre-Columbian art of the Nahuatl people, Licea creates figures that resist assimilation, proudly adorned in traditional garments rendered in vivid hues, envisioning a future where heritage is honored and embraced. His art challenges the pressures of colonialism and the erosion of identity, urging viewers to reconsider the cost of abandoning one’s roots and embrace the strength derived from cultural pride.