Visual artist and instructor San Gonzalez has been selected by Arlington Center for the Arts (ACA) as the recipient of our 2022 Anne Briggs Artist Award. Drawing since they could hold a pencil, San realized at a young age that they could use their voice to tell the stories they wanted. With that self-knowledge, San decided to pursue a career in art and graduated with a BFA in Illustration from Mass College of Art in 2019.
San’s work centers bright colors, androgyny, and fantastical characters that draw from personal experience. They have been published by multiple clients, developed and led workshops, and continue to instruct young folks in both traditional and digital drawing mediums. At ACA, San has taught in the year-round program as well as at our Vacation Arts Camps. They currently lead the popular Friday Night Teen Clubhouse at ACA. See examples of San’s work at https://www.sandragonart.com/
This award honors the memory of Anne Briggs, a longtime member of ACA and prize-winning artist who worked in watercolor, pen & ink, and mixed media and whose pieces were exhibited in galleries across the state.
Through the generosity of the family of Anne Briggs, this award is presented annually in June. It comes with a $250 stipend to help address the challenges artists face in realizing their own personal artistic goals, such as purchasing materials, paying fees to participate in exhibits, or other professional development activities that advance their creative work.
Congratulations to San Gonzalez!