Sebastian Melendez was born in California and has been a local artist in Naples as a young adult. While finishing his Bachelor’s degree in Art from Florida Gulf Coast University he started working at The United Arts Council, a local nonprofit. As a local elementary art teacher Sebastian is an Educator, mentor, and community trailblazer. His passion for the evolution of humanity can be seen in his work as he explores and gets to the complexity of social, spiritual, and theological human constructs. Sebastian is a mixed media artist which include painting, ceramics, collaging, sculpture, and photography. Sebastian’s unapologetic messages are bold and his colors bright and eye-catching as he is inspired by contemporary art and neo-expressionism. His work finds ways to combine his love for nature and the natural world with unearthly man-made elements. His work begs the viewer to uncover truths not only of the physical world we live in but to look inwards at the spiritual world that lives in every one of us. His future goals are to continue his studies and work in Art Therapy specializing in helping heal children and young adults through the therapeutic process of making art.