Emerging Artists: Gilroy ' s Santiago Moreno
The Healing Power of Paint on Canvas
by Gilroy • Morgan Hill TODAY
Santiago Moreno, a 21-year-old artist from Gilroy, California, has spent the past three years creating over 150 acrylic-on-canvas paintings. His journey into art began in 2022 at the age of 18, during the challenging period of the economic and societal shutdown caused by the global pandemic. Struggling with depression and uncertainty about his place in the world, he turned to painting as an outlet for self-discovery and healing.
His first painting, " The Awakening," featured two large red and white mushrooms with eyes, symbolizing his creative vision coming to life. Without any formal training or prior experience in art, Moreno was astounded by what he had created. That moment sparked an unbreakable passion, and from then on, he dedicated himself wholeheartedly to painting.
" We are all in this together. Doesn ' t matter if you ' re brown, black or white. The times we are living in at this moment are very scary, it ' s important for us all to stay united, and fight for what is right not to cause any harm, but to fix what has been broken. Let ' s all find healing and become one."
— Santiago Moreno
Despite working long hours as a waiter, he found time late at night to paint, often sacrificing sleep to fuel his creativity. His boss would reprimand him for coming to work exhausted, but Moreno could not resist his calling. Every spare dollar from his tips went toward canvases, brushes, and paint, reinforcing his commitment to his artistic journey.
Over time, his artwork evolved. Initially centered around themes of peace and love, his paintings now convey deeper messages about power, social inequality, history, and cultural identity. Drawing inspiration from his experiences as a brown Hispanic man, music, and current events, he creates bold, vibrant pieces that communicate stories beyond words. His process begins with a warm, sunset-colored back-ground before sketching and painting in layers until a fully connected narrative emerges on the canvas.
Moreno ' s ability to balance multiple projects at once is remarkable— sometimes working on four to eight paintings simultaneously. His dedication extends to marathon painting sessions lasting eight to ten hours on his days off, often isolating himself in his room to immerse himself fully in his work. This intense focus has distanced him from friends and family, but he remains steadfast in his artistic pursuit, finding solace and purpose in every brushstroke.
For the first six months of his journey, Moreno kept his passion private. It wasn’ t until he launched an Instagram art account that he began sharing his work with the world.
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