“ I really like art that is going to change a person ’ s life . Like the Sí Se Puede painting , I want to add a lot of encouraging words in my artwork ,” Moya said , pointing to a painting of civil rights icon Dolores Huerta holding a sign bearing the phrase she coined while facing opposition during the hardest times of the farmworkers fight for better pay and working conditions . In English , the phrase translates to , “ Yes we can ."

Moya ’ s artwork is drawing attention from people around the world . The 41-year-old , who goes by “ Nacho ,” said he ’ s living his dream that he has held fast to since winning first place in an art contest when he was 10 years old .

“ The prize was a backpack for school supplies . I never had a backpack when I was a kid . That was the first backpack I owned ,” he said .

At that moment , he decided he was going to become an artist . In high school , he was always sketching in notebooks and high school friends would request drawings . While his brothers encouraged him to work in construction after graduating , he instead enrolled in art classes at Gavilan College .

“ I said , ‘ I want to keep doing this . It ’ s my dream .’”

For two years , the Gavilan College student newspaper highlighted Nacho ’ s artistic talents in its “ Student Spotlight ” section . Meanwhile , he continued to work in retail for 14 years , but dreamed of opening his own art gallery . In 2016 , he made the leap and quit his job to become a full-time artist .

“ I didn ’ t know how I was going to do it . I wanted something to push me to the next level ,” he recalled .

He started hosting painting classes in his living room and promoting them on social media .

“ I was hustling every day . I had a lot of time to create . I thought , I don ’ t have a job , I can do this ,” he said .

In 2017 , he discovered a space on Eigleberry Street that would become Moya Art Gallery and Studio and called the landlord . Nacho had just enough money to cover the first month ’ s rent , but his paint parties were soon booked solid .

“ I ’ m grateful that he believed in me without knowing me . When I mentioned the gallery , he said , ‘ Let ’ s do it .’” ( continued ...)

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