CHARLOTTE, N.C./OCTOBER 28, 2025 — Johnson C. Smith University (JCSU) celebrated the return of JCSU alumna, Sulema Castro Salinas ’16, a talented visual artist and educator who brought her visual magic to the James B. Duke Memorial Library for a special event hosted by Dr. Jasleen Kohli, Assistant Professor of Spanish in the Department of Arts and Humanities, College of Liberal Arts. The event showcased Salinas’s artwork, personal journey, and her reflections on culture, creativity, and identity.
Dr. Kohli was inspired to bring Salinas, from Charlotte’s Visual and Performing Arts (VAPA) Center in Charlotte, back to campus to inspire JCSU students. During the event, students put their Spanish language skills to work, posing questions to their fellow Smithite en espaArtist and JCSU Alumna Returns to Campus to Cultivate Community en Españolol. They learned about an organization to which Salinas belongs, Obra Colectiva, a cultural collective in Charlotte that uses art to amplify Latinx voices and heritage in the region. Dr. Kohli used this event as an experiential learning and expert testimony opportunity for students curious about professional pathways in the arts.
“I wanted my students and the campus community to reflect on heritage and community beyond Hispanic Heritage Month,” said Dr. Kohli. “Celebrating culture shouldn’t be limited to a calendar date; it’s something we can honor year-around.”
During her presentation, Salinas shared her personal story as a DACA recipient, first-generation college graduate, and emerging artist who converts personal experiences into vibrant artistic works, celebrating family, motherhood, and Mexican identity. Accompanied by her mother and young son, Salinas spoke passionately about la madre and la maternidad (mother and motherhood) themes that anchor much of her art. She shared details of her creative process and how it mirrors her life as a mother, daughter, and educator.
“JCSU was the place that made everything possible for the artist,” Kohli said. “the University gave her both the space and the courage to dream.”
Salinas also discussed how the political climate surrounding immigration has shaped her work, particularly during her transition from student to professional artist. Her colorful pieces often use recycled materials and simple forms to express profound emotional and cultural depth. Students engaged eagerly during the Q&A session, practicing their Spanish and asking how she maintains creativity during challenging times.
“Her art is vibrant, honest, and deeply human,” said Dr. Kohli. “Our students connected to her use of color, her focus on community, and her ability to turn every day struggles into something beautiful and empowering.”
As part of the event, Dr. Kohli asked her students to write reflections about their own cultural heritage, encouraging them to explore identity as both a personal and shared experience.
“This event wasn’t just about art,” Dr. Kohli said. “It was about voice, visibility, and belonging — and about showing students that their stories, too, are works of art.”
