Madison College launched Hispanic Heritage Month with an afternoon of art and reflection, as the Intercultural Exchange hosted a mixed-media workshop led by Madison artist Angelica Contreras on Sept. 25.
The event drew a strong turnout of students, including many walk-ins, who filled the room with upbeat, collaborative energy. Contreras guided participants through her process of combining collage and acrylics, showing examples of her own layered works before inviting students to create pieces inspired by their heritage and identity.

Contreras brought not only her teaching style but also her perspective as a Latinx artist whose work engages directly with questions of identity and immigrant experiences. Born in Whittier, California, she moved to Guadalajara, Mexico, at an early age, where she studied printmaking before earning a bachelor’s degree in art and a master’s degree in art education from the University of Guadalajara.
Her art has been exhibited in both Mexico and the United States, including shows at Latino Arts Inc. in Milwaukee and the Overture Center in Madison. In 2020, she received the Forward Art Prize, which supports women artists in Dane County. She now lives and works in Madison, continuing to explore the layered nature of identity through collage, painting and mixed media.
The Intercultural Exchange positioned the workshop as part of a broader effort to move beyond campus socials and deepen cultural engagement. Organizers hoped the event would give students the chance to step outside their comfort zones, learn from a local artist and see their own backgrounds reflected in contemporary creative expression.
The workshop was one of several events planned across campus for Hispanic Heritage Month, each aimed at celebrating culture, sparking conversation and connecting students to new perspectives.
By blending personal identity with cultural celebration, the workshop embodied the spirit of Hispanic Heritage Month: honoring tradition while embracing new perspectives.
For Madison College students, it was a chance to walk away not only with finished artworks, but also with a deeper connection to their heritage and that of their peers.