What does it mean to draw ourselves into the story of belonging? For artist Julio Salgado, the answer comes alive through vibrant colors, bold lines, and unapologetic truth-telling.
This August, the Collective Joy Project welcomes Julio Salgado, a Long Beach–based multi-media artist whose work embodies the power of visibility and community. As a queer immigrant, Julio has spent years transforming personal experience into collective connection, creating art that not only tells his own story but also uplifts the stories of many others who often go unheard.
Join us live on Zoom
Tuesday, August 12 at 12 Noon (PT)
Guest Speaker: Julio Salgado
Register here
Registration includes your name, email, zip code, and any accessibility needs.
Julio’s artwork — featured in marches, community spaces, and celebrated institutions like the SFMOMA and the Smithsonian — reminds us that the humanities live not only in books and archives but also on the streets, in murals, in comics, and in the ways we claim joy even in the face of struggle.
In his current role as Power Building Strategist at The Center for Cultural Power, Julio co-created The Disruptors Fellowship, amplifying the voices of emerging television writers of color who identify as trans, undocumented, formerly undocumented, or disabled. He also shares weekly reflections through his comic strip, Good Immigrant, Bad Immigrant, in the L.A. Times.
This month’s theme invites us to reflect on how art becomes a vessel for remembering, resisting, and reimagining. Julio’s journey shows us that joy is not shallow; it’s an act of resilience. It’s a way of saying: We are here. We belong. And we will continue to create.
✨ Can’t join live? A replay will be available on Instagram and YouTube.
