“The GOLDEN State” is a visual reflection on the sociopolitical climate of contemporary America under the Trump administration. Through surreal, mixed media paintings and drawings, I explore themes of racism, classism, immigration, sexism, and governmental overreach, presenting them as poetic, dreamlike narratives.

Drawing inspiration from Classical art, multi-ethnic antiquity, and modern advertising, my work blends symbolic portraiture and layered compositions to examine identity, resilience, and the emotional weight of our time. This exhibition marks the beginning of a larger series chronicling the people and events shaping our current era.

Ultimately, this body of work invites viewers to reflect on the complexities of our shared reality and imagine new possibilities for empathy and transformation.

— Ricardo Osmondo Francis