Editor’s Note: This is the first part of a three-part series that covers graduating art majors from UTEP and their accomplishments throughout their careers.
The journey of an artist is filled with challenges as varied as the colors on a palette. For 21-year-old Priscila Ortiz, a junior studying studio art at the University of Texas El Paso (UTEP), her passion for sculpture and painting, along with the support from UTEP faculty and the DoArt program, has allowed her to enjoy the challenges and even uses them as inspiration.
Even before graduating, she has already showcased her art at exhibitions like La Virgen de Guadalupe Exhibition in Dallas and the Chamizal National Memorial.
Ortiz’s interest in art began from a young age and she started considering a career in the arts when her high school art teachers encouraged her to follow this goal. Now at UTEP, Ortiz has found professors who have pushed her to perfect her technique while staying true to her essence.
“My main professor pushing for my career is David Angel Cabrales. He’s the one who’s in charge of all the sculpture majors, and he has really inspired me to take advantage of my culture,” Ortiz said. “Another professor is Romero, my painting professor at the moment, and he has inspired me to work faster and to have really good time management.”
Their mentorship has helped her find confidence in expressing her identity through her art. Ortiz has found inspiration in her Mexican roots, and uses elements from her cultural history in her art. Her art is rooted in the importance of staying true to herself, and to honor the ones who came before her.
“I have had bad experiences with artists who have told me ‘Don’t use your culture, don’t use your parent’s culture, do something different.’ But I am my culture,” Ortiz said.
Even though she doesn’t like labeling her art as political, Ortiz believes that with the political state of the country, there is no better time to do art, and use one’s voice to bring awareness to important issues.
“If I have a voice, I can use it. Why would I not use something that I can give many times? I don’t want to categorize my art as political, but many topics that I’ve been touching are political at the end of the day, because for example ‘La Virgencita’ going to Dallas, talks about immigration, talks about promises that will never be fulfilled because of separation of families,” Ortiz said. “And those are the things that I like to talk about. I know what’s happening; I see what’s happening. Why not talk about it? Why not take inspiration from it so we can create consciousness about it?”
Her sculpture “Volvere” is the work that will be displayed at the La Virgen de Guadalupe Exhibition at the Dallas Latino Cultural Center. The sculpture blends Mexican elements like roses, angels and La Virgen with recognizable American elements to make her message clear.
“The creative process was ‘How I will make this more powerful?’ and I chose to do like a redo of the Statue of Liberty,” Ortiz said. “That’s why the pose of the Virgencita is like that; we can see that [it has] one hand up and with some roses, because what the statue represents is the freedom of the country. Like, ‘Hey, this country is for me to be free,’ it’s for everyone to be around.”
Ortiz said she chose La Virgen de Guadalupe as it is a representative figure for the Latinx community and for her the flowers represents families who have been separated through the immigration process.
Art is a career that can be mentally demanding due to the challenge of coming up with new concepts. There is also a physical demand because of all the work that goes into welding and designing. Nonetheless, for Ortiz there is nothing as rewarding as seeing other people interested in her craft.
“I feel really proud of myself. It helps me out to have more confidence in my art, so that people are interested in knowing what’s happening,” Ortiz said. “I’m telling you; my art goes a bit for the political, and it makes me proud of how people are still interested. They try to learn and they try to take advantage of the tools that we give as an artist.”
Ortiz has the dream of one day being the person who inspires others to pursue a career in the artistic world as well.
“With AI, people say the arts are no longer profitable, like everything involves all arts. When I graduate, I plan to become a professor of art either here at UTEP or another university, to inspire other people to follow the arts.” Ortiz said.
To become an artist, Ortiz believes one must learn beyond brushing techniques or how to use different metals. For her what is needed most is the bravery to believe that it is possible for oneself.
“At the end of the day just be you. Take the courage and what it takes to be in the arts because it’s not easy, we’ve been looked down from the shoulder, no one takes us seriously,” Ortiz said. “My family and friends have asked me why I am studying that? What are you going to do after? Because they think that the arts are only for a short time, and then you go study a real career, and that’s not true, art is a real career. If no one takes us seriously, we should.”
Ortiz’s sculpture was showcased in New Mexico from November 14–15, 2025, alongside works by other artists, inviting audiences to find inspiration in these proud expressions of culture.
Vivien G. Noe C, is a Staff Reporter, at The Prospector and can be reached at [email protected]
