Santiago López

Growing up between San Diego and San Miguel de Allende, I create art as a bridge between cultures, communities, and lived experiences. I use my illustrations to build connection and turn difference into dialogue.

As a neurodiverse Latinx artist, my work explores belonging, social justice, and shared humanity through character-driven storytelling and symbolic imagery. It explores my ASD and Latinx identity while sparking dialogue around social justice and shared humanity. My artwork has been exhibited at venues including OECD Headquarters Gallery in Paris, on Capitol Hill, the Kennedy Center, California Center for the Arts and at Nickelodeon. In 2023, I was selected as a Kennedy Center Emerging Young Artist, and in 2024 I represented the United States at an international art exhibition and forum during the Paralympic Games in Paris. These experiences expanded my commitment to crafting inclusive worlds where every story belongs.

About my art

My art is storytelling. Through visual metaphors and symbolism, I search for hidden narratives and explore what connects people and our stories. Blending traditional and digital media, I focus on detail, texture, and layered imagery to evoke emotion and reflect diverse perspectives. My work is both a personal reflection and an invitation to a more inclusive world. 

PAST EXHIBITIONS

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts Washington D.C. June 20-July 28, 2024

Organization for Economic Cooperation -OECD Headquarters Gallery Paris, France. September 1-8, 2024

Art Access Gallery Raleigh, North Carolina. August 9-September 21, 2024

Los Angeles City Hall Los Angeles, California. October 23, 2024

The Collective Lafayette, Colorado. November 6-January 5, 2025

Alhambra City Hall Gallery Alhambra, California. September 17, 2025

Explore resources I’ve created around disability, storytelling, and community centered design.

SMITHSONIAN LEARNING LABS