Client: The New York Times

AD: Veronica Rosalez

Editor: Simonetta Nieto Cisneros

Description:

I’m so excited to finally share this! My illustration for The New York Times is out now, for the “Big Ideas: What Is History?” series. The article is called “When Myth Is the Message”, written by one of my favorite authors, Reza Aslan. The piece explores how sacred history doesn’t fit into neat, binary boxes—and how myths can carry deeper truths beyond facts.

When I got the email about the project, I just about screamed. I grew up gay in a conservative Christian family (still practicing, just in a much more progressive way now), and Reza Aslan’s work has had a big impact on how I view religion. His quote, “No religion is inherently violent or peaceful; people are violent or peaceful,” has stuck with me for years.

Thank you so much to AD Veronica and the team! I had such a great time working on this piece—imagining an alchemist’s workshop/work desk was genuinely fun.