The story behind the art…

El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús

I was raised in a Catholic home in Puerto Rico where faith was woven into the everyday rhythms of our lives. One of my earliest memories centers on my mother and a portrait she deeply loved—an image of El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús displayed in a gift shop in downtown Río Piedras. It was a large print, beautifully framed in gilded gold, and every time we passed the shop she would pause to admire it.

As the eldest of four siblings, I quietly gathered my two sisters and my brother and proposed a plan: we would save our pennies and buy the portrait for our mother as a Mother’s Day surprise. We did not own a car, so after many months of saving, we took the bus into town together, purchased the portrait, and carefully carried it home ourselves.

When our mother opened the gift, she was moved to tears. The portrait hung proudly in our home for many years. Later, after we had grown and moved out, it continued to hang on the wall of her humble apartment in the projects, remaining a constant reminder of faith, love, and family.

Although the image was powerful and beautiful, as I grew older I often wondered why Jesus was portrayed with blonde hair and blue eyes. From what I understood about His earthly heritage, it seemed far more likely that He would have had darker features and brown eyes. That question stayed with me quietly for many years.

As my life unfolded and I became both an artist and an educator, that early memory returned to me often. In prayer, I began asking God if one day I might create a portrait of Jesus that could speak to people of every race and culture—a compassionate Christ whose gaze would follow the viewer, reminding them that they are seen, known, and loved by a benevolent and living God.

Through prayer and reflection, that vision eventually took form. The result is the portrait I AM — YO SOY, a contemporary black-and-white acrylic painting created after much prayer and guidance from the Holy Spirit. The work is my humble interpretation of a timeless presence—one that invites contemplation and reminds us of Christ’s eternal words: “I Am.”

My hope is that this portrait will bless many people in the years to come. While it may never replace the beloved image of El Sagrado Corazón de Jesús that meant so much to my mother and our family, I pray that it may become another pathway—another visual reminder of faith, love, and the enduring presence of God in our lives.