Rosana Azar

Originally from Buenos Aires, Argentina, Rosana Azar exhibited extensively in her home country before moving to Washington, D.C., in 1990. Inspired by magical realism and surrealism, Azar’s paintings delve into the emotional and spiritual realms, aiming to capture the continuous transformative essence of the universe. She has exhibited internationally, including in Japan, France, Romania, Portugal, and Germany. Her works are held in private collections on three continents. In 1997 Azar founded Creative Adventures, a non-profit organization that provides art education to children and creates community art projects, primarily in Montgomery County, Maryland. 

Fausto Bayonet

Fausto Radhames Bayonet is a Dominican architect and painter who has lived in the Washington, D.C., area for over 25 years. His work has been featured in both solo and group exhibitions across D.C., Maryland, and New York. Bayonet says his work “presents his love and appreciation for the sea, landscapes, and the sun, exploring the magical interplay of these elements. Whether depicting a sunrise, sunset, or the radiant midday sun lighting the beach, his paintings evoke a deep sense of spiritual relaxation.” He calls his style “Poetic Realism… an emotional interpretation of his personal connection to the mystery and power of nature.” As he puts it, “The purpose of every artist is to make people love life more. If even one person feels uplifted by one of my works, I’ve fulfilled my purpose.”

Wendy Bonilla

Wendy Bonilla was born and raised in El Salvador. She says her childhood “life was simple and beautiful.” She found beauty in nature, in laughter-filled days playing with other children, and in her surroundings, “even with all the flaws.” She “knew art was a part of her.” Bonilla moved to the United States when she was 13 years old, and has lived in Maryland ever since. Bonilla believes that “colors, textures, and forms can stir the soul.” She says “her happiest place [is] the moment she starts a painting.” Inspired by “God’s creation in its pure form” and “a desire to be truthful and genuine,” she says, “life can be overwhelming sometimes, but if we pause and take a moment, we will notice the beautiful details of the flowers, listen to the songs of the birds, and see the sunsets are just breathtaking.” Bonilla is in her second year of studies to become a dental hygienist, but she says she “will continue painting passionately and genuinely.”

Sandra Perez-Ramos

Sandra Pérez-Ramos is a Puerto Rican visual artist working in Maryland and Washington, D.C. Her body of work includes drawings, fiber arts, installation, murals and public art inspired by folklore, ancestral patterns of migration, and the history of forced colonization in the Caribbean. Pérez-Ramos’ work also explores the concepts of home, nostalgia, and mixed heritage through the lens of magical thinking with whimsy and humor. The works in Colores draw their inspiration from Taíno—a community indigenous to the Caribbean—mythology. 

Roxana Rojas-Luzón

Roxana Rojas-Luzón was born in Piura, Peru. She grew up with 10 older brothers and sisters and says that “frequent cumpleanos (birthdays) and Fiestas (parties) with friends and family taught [her] to dance and paint.” Concerned about toxic fumes, Rojas-Luzón, shifted from oil painting to collage during her first pregnancy. Glue and paper were on hand and she found freedom in the simple materials. In her collages, she uses snippets of magazines, fabrics, paper painted by her children, photographs, her own artworks, and more. The works exhibited in Colores explore the Nazca Lines—giant ancient drawings made in the soil of the Nazca Desert in southern Peru, best seen from the air. In addition to her work as an artist, Rojas-Luzón is also a journalist, a Spanish teacher and an interpreter.

Each year, Colores serves not only as a platform for artistic visibility but also as a reflection of the growing influence and contributions of the diverse latino communities in Montgomery County.