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Mosaics: An Artist’s Thesis of Identity Through Memory and Belonging

Author

• Sofia I. Menco, Nova Southeastern UniversityFollow

Date of Defense

2026

Document Type

Honors Thesis

Degree Type

Bachelors of Arts

Declared Major

Art And Design

College

Halmos College of Arts and Sciences

Faculty Advisor

Kandy Lopez-Moreno, MFA, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences

Honors Program Director

Aileen Miyuki Farrar, Ph.D., Director, Farquhar Honors Program

Faculty Fellow for Student Research

David Kerstetter, Ph.D., Faculty Fellow for Student Research

HCAS Dean

Robin Cooper, Ph.D., Dean, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences

Home College Dean

Robin Cooper, Ph.D., Dean, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences

Abstract

Conceptually, this thesis engages visually with Magical Realism as pioneered by Colombian writer, Gabriel Garcia Marquez, as well as the symbolic color fields of Colombian painter Alejandro Obregon, and the narrative portraiture of Spanish illustrator, David de las Heras, by situating my personal narratives within broader themes of memory, color symbolism and faith-based art. Having this visual research in mind, I drew a lot of inspiration from Colombian Artisan Practices such as Mochilas Wayuu and the folkloric colors of such. At the same time, I explored the sociological and religious lens coming from a theoretical approach of George Hebert Mead’s concept of the creative response on internalized societal attitudes. Connecting to ideas like the Social Identity Theory (SIT), and how we choose which fragments we keep throughout our nurture.

During this process, I learned techniques not only conceptually and in terms of craftsmanship for my art, but I learned about the scope I want my art to take, and how I want to direct my art for my future career. I learned the importance of having theoretical and visual research going hand in hand to investigate broader research, and how this impacts a project.

Comments

This thesis investigates how art can function as a visual testimony of memory, faith, and cultural identity in immigrant narratives.

This thesis looks at memory and belonging through the creation and curation of my artworks and an art exhibition representing these dialogues. Rooted in my Colombian heritage, my work reflects an ongoing negotiation between cultural memory and contemporary lived experience, examining themes of belonging, identity, and the preservation of roots in unfamiliar spaces.

NSUWorks Citation

Sofia I. Menco. 2026. Mosaics: An Artist’s Thesis of Identity Through Memory and Belonging. Capstone. Nova Southeastern University. Retrieved from NSUWorks, Halmos College of Arts and Sciences. (52)
https://nsuworks.nova.edu/honors_theses/52.