Hispanic Heritage Month started Sept. 15! As a part of the school’s ongoing commitment to diversity and inclusion, Ringling College of Art and Design is highlighting the contributions and achievements of Hispanic and Latine students, alumni, staff, and faculty.
When Sandra Lucia Diaz ’09, Illustration, founded her stationery and art print company in 2020, she named it after her first paying customer: her grandmother Lucía. Less than five years later, Lucía Diaz has been hired by global brands like Tiffany, Saks Fifth Avenue, Chanel, Korbel, and many more to create one-of-a-kind artwork and in-person experiences for the brands and their VIP guests.
Lucía Diaz’s ultimate mission, says Diaz, is to ensure that mujeres ponderosas—”powerful women”—see themselves represented in art. The idea for her products began when Diaz, in search of a graduation card for her cousin, couldn’t find any cards that represented the cousin’s Afro-Latina heritage. “So I decided to make one myself,” she later told American Express.
She began with an Etsy shop selling empowering cards and artwork inspired by her own Colombian heritage and other Hispanic cultures and communities. She quickly grew to “Star Seller” status.
In addition to the enthusiasm of an untapped market, Lucía Diaz grew in part through grants and fellowships. Diaz now leads workshops, especially geared toward Black, Latina, and Afro-Latina people, that to date have helped more than 300 entrepreneurs secure more than $100,000 in grant funding. Her experiences as a speaker and panelist include the United Nations 78th Science Summit and the Nasdaq Entrepreneurial Center.
For her collaborations with global brands like Chanel and Tiffany, Diaz creates a “live customer experience” offering personalized illustrations and art prints during brand events and other special occasions.
Diaz’s resume also includes portrait illustrations for ¡Viva Latina! by Sandra Velasquez, a book of stories and wisdom shared by Latina women; hosting The Art of Representation podcast; and art direction for the launch of Prime Video Mexico. She also continues to exhibit her own works, curate exhibitions, and moderate discussions throughout the country and the world.
“My illustrations strive to provide cultural representation and instill pride, allowing mujeres poderosas to feel celebrated and seen in the world,” she said.
