Carrying Legacy Forward: Why Your Vote Matters 🎨
Art has never felt like something separate from life. It’s always been tied to where I come from, the people around me, and the stories I’ve grown up with.
As part of the Eritrean diaspora, that connection feels even deeper. There’s always this quiet awareness of history, movement, and identity. For me, art has become one of the ways to hold onto those things.
My father is an artist, and watching him create shaped a lot of how I understand art today. It wasn’t just about making something that looked good. It was about discipline, intention, and honoring something bigger than yourself. That perspective stayed with me. So when I create now, it doesn’t feel like I’m starting from nothing. It feels like I’m continuing something.
Recently, I was selected for The People’s Artist, a competition where one artist will be featured in Artforum Magazine, receive $25,000, and show their work at The Art of Elysium’s salon in Los Angeles. It’s an incredible opportunity that could really open doors.
But what makes it different is that the winner is chosen entirely through public voting.
That means this moment isn’t just about recognition. It’s about who gets seen, whose stories are given space, and what kind of work is supported.
For artists like me, that matters. Representation isn’t just a buzzword, it’s real. It shapes what people believe is possible, and who they imagine belongs in these spaces. If my work has ever resonated with you, this is a simple way to support it. Voting is free, and you can do it once a day. It might seem small, but it genuinely adds up.
And if I win, it won’t just feel like a personal achievement. It will feel like something shared something connected to where I come from and the people who helped shape me.
Thank you for being part of that in any way.
Vote here:
Voting opens May 4th, 2026 at 10:00 AM PDT https://peoplesartist.org/2026/hanan-seid-wFtg
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