Bio
Lucia Conchas is a multidisciplinary artist and San Antonio native. Lucia joined SAY Sí in 2014 as a WAMmer. Over her six years at SAY Sí, she learned how to use her art as a platform for activism. Her art became a physical manifestation of her social justice fueled fire, to spread awareness about inequities in the community and world. In her junior year, Lucia became a WAM mentor to teach and empower others. She is a first generation American aspiring to go into a career that will allow her to take design skills and create something functional. She will be studying architecture at UT Austin this fall.
Artist Statement
Being a first generation American and growing up amongst a Mexican immigrant family, the immigration crisis has always been an issue close to my heart. Over the years the crisis has only heightened with the migrant detention camps and countless ICE raids. At the start of this mural, the safety and security of DACA Dreamers was in question and highly controversial. The idea of the government being able to deport innocent people who have grown up in the U.S. is frightening. For this piece, I wanted to create something that celebrated dreamers and portrayed their optimistic resilience. Distraught by the uncertain safety of dreamers, I painted my cousin Andrea, who is a DACA dreamer. She is a hardworking and smart young woman who has lived here her whole life and just graduated from UTSA; she has big aspirations and dreams for her future. The recent Supreme Court ruling to reject Trump’s bid to end DACA was a big win for immigrants in the U.S. and provided the much-needed hope for the future. The mural reads “Los Sueños no se desalojan,” translating to "you can’t evict dreams". You can’t evict people from what they call home for seeking a better future and chasing their dreams.
