News Summary
Tallahassee is celebrating its vibrant Hispanic culture with the annual Cultura Tallahassee Exhibit, which focuses on local Hispanic artists. This year’s exhibit features the work of Zulay Romero, an upcycling artist known for her mixed media pieces that convey profound messages of healing and community through art. The exhibit will be available for viewing until October 8 at the Leon County Main Library, showcasing the contributions of Hispanic artists to the community’s cultural landscape.
Tallahassee is celebrating its vibrant Hispanic culture with the annual Cultura Tallahassee Exhibit, which opened on September 20 at the Leon County Main Library. This year’s theme, titled “Cultura Tallahassee: Los Colores de la Comunidad,” focuses on local Hispanic artists and their contributions through various artistic mediums.
A standout contributor to this year’s exhibit is artist Zulay Romero, who is showcasing her work for the second consecutive year. Romero’s art is influenced heavily by her upbringing as the child of immigrants from Colombia. Born in Queens, New York, she moved to a small town in North Carolina early in her life before relocating to Tallahassee three years ago to live with her aunt. She appreciates Tallahassee’s small-town atmosphere and its rich natural surroundings.
Romero is recognized as an upcycling artist, using mixed media to create her abstract works. Her artistic philosophy centers on the belief that “we already have everything we need,” a principle she embodies by incorporating found objects into her pieces. For the Cultura Tallahassee Exhibit, she is presenting a compelling painting entitled “If I Heal, We All Heal,” which features three-dimensional flowers crafted from old egg cartons.
Romero identifies as neurodivergent, a realization that came after receiving a diagnosis in her late twenties. From a young age, she felt different and was encouraged by a high school teacher to explore her artistic talents. She holds a Studio Art Degree with a concentration in Art Therapy from Chowan University in North Carolina and has earned dual master’s degrees in Art Therapy and Counseling from Eastern Virginia Medical School. Licensed as a counselor since 2020, Romero has worked with diverse populations, including military personnel and families facing challenges such as PTSD and substance abuse.
Her deep belief in the healing power of art therapy plays a significant role in her work, as she views art as a medium that promotes recovery through creative expression. Romero’s artistic inspiration also derives from her spiritual beliefs, rooted in her upbringing as the daughter of pastors. A transformative moment in her life was discovering the book “The Alchemist” in a local park, which resonated with her on a spiritual level.
The colors in Romero’s exhibit piece hold profound meanings; black symbolizes generational trauma, red represents love and hope, and gold signifies progression towards the future. Her artwork articulates the significance of healing not just for herself but for subsequent generations, echoing her personal narrative as a Hispanic immigrant.
The Cultura Tallahassee Exhibit will be available for viewing until October 8 at the Leroy Collins Leon County Main Public Library. Individuals interested in exploring Romero’s artistic journey can find her work online at emberstudio.art and on Instagram at @emberstudio. The exhibit underscores the efforts to celebrate and preserve Hispanic culture within the Tallahassee community.
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Additional Resources
- Tallahassee Democrat: The Healing Power of Art
- Tallahassee Democrat: Florida Budget Cuts and Arts Funding
- FSU News: Tallahassee Museum Experience
- The Famuan: Springtime Tallahassee 2025
- Wikipedia: Hispanic and Latino Americans
- Encyclopedia Britannica: Art Therapy
Author: STAFF HERE TALLAHASSEE WRITER
The TALLAHASSEE STAFF WRITER represents the experienced team at HERETallahassee.com, your go-to source for actionable local news and information in Tallahassee, Leon County, and beyond. Specializing in "news you can use," we cover essential topics like product reviews for personal and business needs, local business directories, politics, real estate trends, neighborhood insights, and state news affecting the area—with deep expertise drawn from years of dedicated reporting and strong community input, including local press releases and business updates. We deliver top reporting on high-value events such as Springtime Tallahassee, Tallahassee Jazz & Blues Festival, and LeMoyne Chain of Parks Art Festival. Our coverage extends to key organizations like the Greater Tallahassee Chamber of Commerce and United Way of the Big Bend, plus leading businesses in education, healthcare, and insurance that power the local economy such as Florida State University, Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare, and Capital Health Plan. As part of the broader HERE network, including HEREJacksonville.com, HEREOrlando.com, HEREStPetersburg.com, and HERETampa.com, we provide comprehensive, credible insights into Florida's dynamic landscape.
