Meet the 2026 Plurinational Climate Art Fellows!
The Climate Science Alliance recently welcomed 8 community artists as 2026 Plurinational Climate Art Fellows, as part of a collaboration with Marigold Fund and International Community Foundation. This inaugural Plurinational Climate Art Fellowship Program provides funding, educational experiences, and networks for artists to create artwork about climate change and environmental resilience, inspiring communities to create a sustainable future together. Meet the artists on today’s blog!
This summer, the Climate Science Alliance, Marigold Fund, and International Community Foundation are collaborating to host 8 artists as part of the Plurinational Climate Art Fellowship. This inaugural program is engaging and supporting artists from the plurinational region that includes San Diego County and the Tijuana/Baja California region. We believe that together we can create a sustainable future through learning, sharing, and celebrating our environment, our communities, and our dreams for the future. And who better to lead us than the creatives who use their art to engage, educate, and inspire.
The Plurinational Climate Art Fellows are taking inspiration from two main prompts: the importance of coastal stewardship in climate resilience and #ShowYourStripes, an initiative started in 2019 that represents long term global warming trends with a display of simple blue to red stripes. On October 3rd, the art fellows will share their art work and highlight the connection between these two prompts in a final exhibition at the Sweetwater Marsh as a part of San Diego Climate Week. Meet the artists Mily Chan, Mirna Borrego Lazalde, Joel G Mayoral, Melody Hernandez, Javier Salazar Rojas, Omari Mooring, Yvette Roman, and Kim Reasor before the event in the blog below!
Mily Chan, Baja California
Inicio su experiencia artística usando como técnica el aerosol sobre las calles. A través del tiempo fue experimentando con técnicas mixtas, diferentes escalas y lienzos. Ha trabajado con vinícolas y restaurantes de la región y su formación como bióloga ha permitido la colaboración estrecha con científicos a través de cartografía, ilustraciones tradicionales y digitales para la divulgación de la ciencia y en proyectos de conservación marina.
Actualmente toda mi energía está en el [Plurinational Climate Art Fellowship], en donde voy a recolectar residuos que sean del color de la escala de colores de las franjas de Calentamiento Climático, para “pintar” paisajes de la Península de Baja California. ¡Que emoción, saber que al menos una cantidad de residuos que estaban afectando el valor del paisaje de la Península formaran parte de una obra. Me encantaría que esto fuera tendencia entre artistas! Me inspira el Océano, me inspira seguir contribuyendo, quizás a una escala tan pequeña pero con la fé de que reabriré-abriré nuevas ventanas a las personas a mi alrededor. Me resuenan las problemáticas ambientales a la que mi generación le toca ver, sentir, atravesar, buscar soluciones a problemas que tal vez no generamos pero somos parte. No puedo salvarlo todo, ni a mi. Sin embargo, como ser minúsculo que habita estos paisajes, puedo intentar accionar a escala local con impacto global.
Me gustaría que las personas se llevaran esa “espinita” de como nuestro ritmo de consumo está llegando a todos los rincones de la Tierra. Sin discriminar. Quisiera reforzar o abrir la ventana sobre el problema global que representan los residuos y cómo estos están impactando el valor del paisaje de la Península de Baja California. Paisajes que cualquier persona al conocerla queda maravillada. También, quisiera hacerlos pensar que esta forma de expresión podría ser una realidad en la carrera de los artistas al tener que incorporar residuos como insumo de sus obras, como forma de manifestarse, visibilizar y contribuir a minimizar la presencia de los residuos.
I began my artistic journey using spray paint on the streets. Over time, I experimented with mixed media, varying scales, and different canvases. I have worked with regional wineries and restaurants, and my background as a biologist has enabled close collaboration with scientists—using cartography and both traditional and digital illustration—to communicate science and support marine conservation projects.
Currently, I am pouring all my energy into the [Plurinational Climate Art Fellowship], where I collect waste matching the color spectrum of the "Climate Warming Stripes" to "paint" landscapes of the Baja California Peninsula. It is so exciting to know that waste—which was previously detracting from the beauty of the Peninsula’s landscape—will now become part of a work of art. I would love for this to become a trend among artists!
I am inspired by the ocean and the desire to keep contributing—perhaps on a small scale, but with the faith that I am opening a new perspective for those around me. I deeply resonate with the environmental issues my generation must witness, feel, and navigate—seeking solutions to problems we may not have caused, yet are inextricably part of. I cannot save everything, nor can I save myself alone. However, as a tiny being inhabiting these landscapes, I can try to take action at a local level that has a global impact.
I would like people to leave with a lingering thought—a "nudge"—about how our consumption habits are reaching every corner of the Earth, sparing nothing. I want to highlight or open a window onto the global waste crisis and show how it is affecting the beauty of the Baja California Peninsula—landscapes that leave anyone who sees them in awe. I would also like to prompt you to consider how this form of expression could become a reality in artists' careers—incorporating waste as a raw material for their work as a means of making a statement, raising awareness, and helping to minimize the presence of waste.
Mirna Borrego Lazalde, Ensenada, Baja California
Soy Mirna Borrego Lazalde, nací y vivo en Ensenada, Baja California. Soy licenciada en ciencias de la comunicación con especialidad en divulgación científica, y trabajo en conservación desde hace más de doce años. En mis proyectos personales me dedico a la fotografía documental y al storytelling sobre patrimonio biocultural, también diseño y facilito experiencias de reencuentro con la naturaleza.
Actualmente participo en el Programa Plurinacional de Arte Climático 2026 con una propuesta de fotografía documental e historia oral, Memorias del Agua y la Tierra. A través de la voz de tres narradores comunitarios comparto historias de cambio climático en ecosistemas vitales de la península de Baja California: las dunas costeras, el chaparral y el bosque de coníferas.
Dar plataforma a las voces comunitarias y compartir el patrimonio biocultural de mi región. Esas voces son esenciales para mostrar la vulnerabilidad de nuestros ecosistemas y, sobre todo, la conectividad y la resiliencia de las ecorregiones que habitamos y de los seres vivos con los que co habitamos .
Plasmar el paisaje como lo veo hoy, imaginar su futuro y honrar su pasado a través de las voces de quienes lo habitaron, lo habitan y lo han protegido.
Quiero que el público sienta la profunda relación entre el ser humano y la naturaleza, con todo su impacto, positivo y negativo. Que se lleve una idea: somos parte de la memoria del paisaje y, al mismo tiempo, quienes pueden contarlo y protegerlo.
I am Mirna Borrego Lazalde; I was born and live in Ensenada, Baja California. I hold a degree in Communication Sciences with a specialization in science communication, and I have been working in conservation for over twelve years. My personal projects focus on documentary photography and storytelling regarding biocultural heritage; I also design and facilitate experiences that foster a reconnection with nature.
I am currently participating in the 2026 Plurinational Climate Art Program with a documentary photography and oral history project titled Memorias del Agua y la Tierra (Memories of Water and Earth). Through the voices of three community storytellers, I share accounts of climate change affecting vital ecosystems on the Baja California peninsula: coastal dunes, chaparral, and coniferous forests.
My goal is to provide a platform for community voices and share my region's biocultural heritage. These voices are essential for revealing the vulnerability of our ecosystems—and, above all, the connectivity and resilience of the ecoregions we inhabit and the living beings with whom we share this space.
I aim to capture the landscape as I see it today, envision its future, and honor its past through the voices of those who have inhabited, currently inhabit, and have protected it. I want the audience to feel the profound relationship between humans and nature, acknowledging the full scope of our impact—both positive and negative. I want them to take away one key idea: we are part of the landscape’s memory, and at the same time, we are the ones who can tell its story and protect it.
Joel G Mayoral, Baja California
Ha presentado exposiciones individuales y colectivas en espacios como Línea A, CEARTE, Galería Ophelia, Bodegas de Santo Tomás y el Centro de Residencias e Investigación Artística (CRIA). Recibió Mención Honorífica en la XXI Bienal de Artes Plásticas de Baja California y fue beneficiario del Programa de Estímulo a la Creación y Desarrollo Artístico (PECDA) Baja California 2024. Participó como asistente del artista artista Héctor Herrera. En 2025 participó en la One Ocean Expedition, iniciativa de la Década de las Ciencias Oceánicas de las Naciones Unidas, a bordo del velero STATSRAAD LEHMKUHL (Noruega), en colaboración con N-GEN (Estados Unidos). Paralelamente participa en la banda Meltí, el proyecto de danza contemporánea “Luzbel” y el canal de divulgación artística “Pintando por el mundo”.
En una serie de pinturas inspirado en la paleta de color de show your stripes, con esto busco representar el cambio visual consecuencia del cambio climático de la costa de las Californias y su repercusión en nuestro día a día. Me inspira el océano y su energía con la que empapa toda la vida en su tierra, me inspira también el riesgo en el que se encuentran las playas y lo que anida en su interior.
Me gustaría que las personas se preguntaran que pueden hacer para mantener su comunidad unida frente al cambio climático, me gustaría que la belleza natural sea inspiración para los habitantes, para proteger y llevar a la acción mediante pequeños hábitos que pueden marcar una diferencia. Creo que mediante el arte las personas pueden acercarse a la conservación y entender de mejor manera lo que está sucediendo a su alrededor.
I have held solo and group exhibitions at venues such as Línea A, CEARTE, Galería Ophelia, Bodegas de Santo Tomás, and the Center for Artistic Residencies and Research (CRIA). I received an Honorable Mention at the 21st Baja California Visual Arts Biennial and was a recipient of the 2024 PECDA (Program for the Stimulation of Artistic Creation and Development) grant in Baja California. I also worked as an assistant to artist Héctor Herrera. In 2025, I participated in the One Ocean Expedition—an initiative of the UN Decade of Ocean Science—aboard the sailing ship Statsraad Lehmkuhl (Norway), in collaboration with N-GEN (United States). Concurrently, I am involved with the band Meltí, the contemporary dance project "Luzbel," and the art outreach channel "Pintando por el mundo" (Painting Around the World).
In a series of paintings inspired by the "Show Your Stripes" color palette, I seek to represent the visual changes resulting from climate change along the coast of the Californias and the impact this has on our daily lives. I am inspired by the ocean and the energy with which it permeates all life on land, as well as by the risks facing our beaches and the ecosystems they harbor.
I would like people to ask themselves what they can do to keep their communities united in the face of climate change; I hope natural beauty inspires residents to protect their environment and take action through small habits that can make a difference. I believe that art allows people to connect with conservation efforts and better understand what is happening around them.
Melody Hernandez, San Ysidro, CA
My name is Melody Hernandez, and I'm an artist who loves nature and finding new ways to help people connect with it through my drone work, and my education into urban forestry for the San Diego–Tijuana region. I'm currently studying GIS while working toward my goal of becoming a tree doctor. Right now, I'm helping build a community garden where people can learn how to grow plants together. While working in the garden, I was surprised to learn that many of the plants we see every day aren't native to California and it made me excited to learn more about the plants and trees that have always belonged here.
My idea for this artwork comes from my journey into becoming a tree doctor. As I learned more about trees, I discovered that their rings can tell the story of everything they've been through—from years of good growth to times of drought and other challenges. That made me wonder if I could share those stories in a way everyone could understand.
I really hope my artwork encourages people to slow down and look at trees differently instead of seeing them as part of the background. They have the potential to become beautiful living parts of our communities.
Javier Salazar Rojas, Tijuana, México
I am a visual artist and muralist known as “DeportedArtist.” Born in Tijuana and raised in East Oakland, California, I have spent the last 11 years back in Tijuana using my art to give a voice to the unheard and to speak up for the migrant community. My public art practice is fundamentally collaborative, focusing on social justice, culture, and transborder identity. Over the past decade, I have served as a lead artist for major regional initiatives, including the Leave No One Behind mural project and phase two of the Playas de Tijuana Mural Project. You can find my murals all along the Mexican side of the border wall in Playas de Tijuana.
I am currently in the planning phase for a new mural that will highlight some of the endangered flora and fauna native to the San Diego/Tijuana region that are being threatened by climate change. When people see my art, I want them to look past man made barriers and recognize our collective responsibility to the ecosystem we share. I hope to inspire a deep sense of environmental responsibility, encouraging viewers to see climate change awareness not just as a global issue, but as a deeply rooted community effort that connects all of us across borders.
Omari Mooring, San Diego, CA
I’m an Artist, designer, and educator. I studied wildlife conservation and Media design. I just finished hosting the first art workshop where we taught people about the importance of kelp beds and connecting them to environmental conservation in our local San Diego coastal area. We also began to create our 3D mixed media canvas painting. I’m excited about exploring new ways to make climate science approachable through art and build community where art is the catalyst. I’m inspired by the incredible biodiversity in our local coastal San Diego area and how impactful each species is in keeping things balanced and healthy. I want people to leave with more than just a painting but a deeper connection to the world around us, and how even small actions can make an impact.
Yvette Roman, San Diego, CA and Tijuana, México
My name is Yvette Roman. I am a fronteriza artist, curator, and arts educator. I grew up along the U.S.-Mexico border, living a binational life shaped by constantly shifting landscapes and dual identities. For the Climate Fellowship I chose to focus on neighborhoods along the Tijuana River because it connects my family's homes on both sides of the border. While traveling along the Tijuana River, I have seen factories built, traffic increase, trash in our water, and green spaces that once surrounded my home gradually disappeared. The impacts of pollution are not defined by a border, it lives in our shared ecosystems, wildlife, and communities on both sides.
For this fellowship, I am creating a textile piece titled The Land We Share, inspired by Show Your Stripes. Show Your Stripes illustrates the effects of climate change by visualizing the patterns of warming over time. The tapestry is created from secondhand clothing sourced from sobreruedas and swap meets in our border region. Using secondhand clothing addresses the impact of fast fashion and supports local economies.
As part of the project, I will host workshops in San Diego and Tijuana. The artwork created facilitates conversations about memories and emotions connected to nature. I believe that memories build connections and that caring for our environment begins with understanding our relationship to the land. I hope that participants who collaborate on this piece feel motivated to take action, whether by reducing waste, recycling, or advocating for environmental protections that hold industries and governments accountable.
Kim Reasor, San Diego, CA
I have been an artist for most of my life, as well as being interested in ecology and the environment. For the last ten years, I have been making art that deals with climate change and the environment, with subject matter including the Finnish Arctic, northern Alaska, and southern California. I'm excited to have another opportunity to do a research-based art project with the Climate Science Alliance, this time focusing on coastal resilience. Creating art that sneaks facts about the environment into aesthetically-pleasing objects or paintings is one of my favorite things to do. I, like so many of us, sometimes wrestle with finding hope in our situation and am planning to explore actions and ideas about what can be done to protect and restore nature locally. My hope is that the art I make during this fellowship will make viewers more aware of options for restoring our local coastal wetlands, and maybe even inspire some of them to get involved.
