When a Voice Finds Its Echo: My International Recognition in Create! Magazine

There are moments in an artist's life that become gentle reminders that the path we have chosen is worth pursuing.

This year, I had the honor of receiving Second Place International in Create! Magazine's International Women's Edition 2026, one of the most respected contemporary art publications celebrating women artists from around the world.

What makes this recognition especial meaningful is the context behind it. More than 1,000 artists submitted their work for consideration. From that pool, only 43 artists were selected for publication, and just three artists received special awards. To be included among those selected and recognized with Second Place International was both humbling and deeply moving.

As artists, we spend countless hours working quietly behind the scenes. Most of the creative journey takes place far from exhibitions, publications, and recognition. It happens in the studio, in front of a blank canvas, through moments of uncertainty, discovery, and the ongoing search for an authentic voice.

My work explores themes of memory, identity, femininity, and emotional vulnerability. Through contemporary figurative painting, I seek to create images that invite reflection, empathy, and human connection. Knowing that this work resonated with an international jury and a publication of such caliber means far more than a professional achievement—it represents a validation of years of dedication, study, perseverance, and faith in the creative process.

I often think of the young girl who first began drawing in Venezuela, the Fine Arts student eager to understand the language of painting, the immigrant who arrived in Miami carrying both dreams and uncertainty, and the woman who continues to believe in the transformative power of art.

I am profoundly grateful to Create! Magazine for this opportunity, to the curators and jurors who devoted their time to reviewing each submission, and to everyone who has supported my artistic journey over the years.

Recognition is meaningful, but the greatest gift remains the opportunity to continue creating, growing, and sharing stories through art.

This award is not a destination. It is a reminder that there are still many stories waiting to be painted.

Winibey López Contemporary Visual Artist