about.

Santiago López

Growing up between San Diego and San Miguel de Allende, I realized art has the power to bridge cultures, communities, and lived experiences. Through illustration and visual storytelling, I build connection, spark a shift, flip the script, and turn difference into dialogue.

As an autistic and Latinx artist, I draw from my lived experiences while exploring themes of identity, disability, culture, and our shared humanity. My artwork has been exhibited at venues including the OECD Headquarters Gallery in Paris, Capitol Hill, the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts, California Center for the Arts, and Nickelodeon.

In 2023, I was selected as a Kennedy Center Emerging Young Artist. The following year, I was chosen to represent the United States at an international art exhibition and forum held in Paris for the 2024 Paralympic Games. These experiences continue to shape how I use art to create meaningful connections and bring new stories and perspectives into the conversation.

About my work

Through visual metaphors, symbolism, and character-driven storytelling, I search for hidden narratives and explore the connections between people, cultures, and experiences. Blending traditional and digital media, I work with detail, texture, color, and layered imagery to create illustrations that evoke emotion and invite discovery.

My work spans children’s illustration, character development, narrative art, and community-centered projects. Whether telling a personal story or creating an imagined world, I approach illustration as both a form of reflection and a way to open conversations across differences.

Explore educational resources I’ve created around disability, storytelling, art, and community-centered creativity with Smithsonian Learning Labs.