Texas Border Business
By Joey Gomez
McALLEN, Texas – For three South Texas College alumni, returning to STC to participate in an exhibit at the Technology Campus Library Art Gallery wasn’t just about displaying their paintings – it was about coming home.
Elijah Dueñas, Irma Garza Garcia and Michelle Ramirez were recently honored at a reception by the Gallery during its annual STC Alumni Series, which enabled the three former Visual Arts students to reunite and share how mentorship shaped their creative journeys.
“You always know who is going to remain an artist after the classroom,” said Gina Otvos, STC Library Art Gallery coordinator. “It’s wonderful to see the continuation of these former students and to know that the drive to create has stayed with them even beyond their studies.”
The exhibit, which will be available to view until Dec. 1 at the STC Technology Campus Library Art Gallery, is a celebration of how education, persistence and community can transform artistic ambition into a lifelong passion.
Each of the artists began their studies under STC Art Instructor Luis Corpus, whose courses in drawing and painting introduced them to the discipline and foundation of the arts.
All three later continued their education at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley (UTRGV) under Painting faculty member Rigoberto Gonzalez, a nationally recognized artist known for his mastery of classical realism and human anatomy.
“Every year we bring in artists who have graduated from STC and who have gone on to do phenomenal work,” Otvos said. “This year we wanted to highlight that lineage from STC to UTRGV – the way both faculty members have shaped these artists’ voices.”
For Dueñas, that lineage was life changing. Originally a computer science major, he began taking art classes at STC in 2018 and soon realized he had discovered his true calling.
He credits Corpus for helping him master the basics – understanding light, shape and proportion – and Gonzalez for refining his portrait work once he transferred to UTRGV.
“The classes were tough and challenging,” Dueñas said. “But they ignited my love for portrait art. Every time I draw, I reflect on how my instructors helped me find my place in the world of art.”
Returning to STC for the exhibit, he described the experience as humbling and deeply nostalgic.
“Following your passion isn’t always easy, but it’s worth it,” he said. “I think that’s something every student has to discover for themselves.”
Garcia said her story speaks to the power of perseverance. A Starr County native, she first enrolled at STC’s Starr County Campus in 1999, but life including marriage, children and a full-time career forced her to pause her studies.
Nearly two decades later, Garcia said she returned to complete her associate degree in Visual Arts determined to finish what she started.
Garcia said her paintings reflect her Tex-Mex heritage as well as her sense of identity. Bright reds, blues and golds mingle with cultural symbols like the Texas star – imagery she says honors her roots as well as the blend of cultures that shaped her upbringing.
She is now pursuing her bachelor’s degree at UTRGV and hopes her journey will inspire others to return to the classroom.
“It’s never too late to start or resume a postponed goal,” she said. “The best age for a person is always the present.”
STC alumna Ramirez, who is the youngest of the three artists, said the path from student to exhibitor came full circle almost overnight.
A graduate of Roma High School, Ramirez began studying at STC in 2022 and earned her Associate of Arts in Teaching in 2024. It wasn’t until her final semester when she enrolled in one of Corpus’ painting classes that her passion for oil painting was ignited, she said.
“I never wanted to miss a single session,” she said. “It gave me the space to create, learn and evolve as an artist.”
Now pursuing a Bachelor of Arts with a teaching certification at UTRGV, Ramirez said she continues to focus on self-portraiture and realism, which are disciplines that continue to challenge her studies in human anatomy and technique.
“Most of my paintings are self-portraits,” she said. “I’m still learning realism, but I’m growing with every piece.”
To see a full list of all the exhibits taking place at STC through the Library Art Gallery visit library.southtexascollege.edu/newsevents/libraryartgallery/.
Information source: STC
