"Nothing in this world is as soft and yielding as water, yet for attacking the hard and strong, none can triumph so easily.”
My father often recited the Tao Te Ching in my youth, shaping my understanding of the self and the power of nature. This quote in particular has had a profound impact on my work.
I am a Puerto Rican American artist and dedicated environmental activist whose commitment to climate change was ignited in my childhood in Miami, a city vulnerable to rising sea levels. The urgency of my mission intensified after witnessing Hurricane Maria's devastating impact on my family in Puerto Rico.
I am pursuing a degree in environmental studies with a concentration in international policy at Yale University. Studying watercolor at Yale inspired me to pursue it as my main medium. Influenced by artists such as J.M.W. Turner, John James Audubon, and Shiy De Jin, as well as the striking imagery of Ryujin that I encountered during my research in Japan, I work with ink and watercolor to capture the dynamics of feathers, water, and light.
As a climate journalist, I explore diverse global perspectives on sustainability. My international experiences have allowed me to gather compelling stories, such as the sustainable practices of an Italian convent, the climate wisdom of Buddhist monks in Japan, and the Swiss approach to climate accountability. I believe in the power of cultural exchange to foster ecological progress, and I embed these narratives into my art.
My paintings serve as an extension of my research, aiming to convey the emotions and essence of the individuals behind the climate stories I share. Ultimately, I seek to deepen the understanding of our environment and the communities affected by climate change, blending art and journalism. I am honored to be a part of the Yale COP delegation, which has enabled me to interact with the international climate legal regime under the UNFCCC. My work as a part of the youth climate movement has earned me recognition as a United Nations Academic Impact Millennium Fellow, an American Meteorological Society Minority Scholar, and an Aspen Climate Summit "Future Leader, " which has further propelled my progress in installing climate art exhibitions in Downtown Manhattan.
Traveling Exhibition
Yale Club, NYC & Ezra Stiles Gallery, New Haven
A multisensory exhibition exploring climate hope, featuring collaborations between visual artists and composers, with tactile components for low-vision audiences.
Partners: World Wildlife Foundation, United Nations Millennium Fellowship, Yale Club NYC, Foundation Fighting Blindness, Eye Matter, Relief After Disaster, New York Public Library
Press Coverage: Featured in Channel 8 News Interview and the Yale Daily News
Ezra Stiles Art Gallery, New Haven
An intimate solo exhibition bridging classical-period artistic influence and environmental narratives.
Partners/Supporters: Yale Creative Performing Arts Award
The Table and Gallery, New Haven
An exhibition highlighting the United Nations Convention on Climate Change, a collaborative week-long educational and visual event at the Table and Gallery.
Partners/Supporters: Yale Creative Performing Arts Award, The Table and Gallery, and the United Nations Millennium Fellowship
Palette to Purpose is an immersive audiovisual performance designed to spark meaningful conversation about the urgent need for climate action, all while making the event accessible to a broader audience. My team and I collaborated with visual artists, composers, engineers, and educators, to create a multisensory exhibit, with tactile and audiovisual presentations that convey pressing environmental issues. The exhibition allowed for the visually impaired community to participate, and we incorporated moments of reflection to inspire solidarity with the disabled community.
Through Palette to Purpose, we hope to encourage a global conversation that amplifies the urgency for climate action through art and music. This immersive audiovisual gallery brings together artists and composers, blending two creative mediums to inspire reflection about the environmental challenges we face and the future of our planet.
I founded Palette to Purpose at Yale, along with my team Krisha Ramani, Anjal Jain, and Elena Bouldin.