The self-introduction is as upbeat and direct as the person posting it on their website:

"Hi! I'm Liz, a first-gen Salvadoran American artist based in Houston, Texas."

Meet Elizabeth "Liz" Umanzor, a 2019 graduate of the University of Houston-Clear Lake who is making her way as a working artist, combining her natural talent with the education she gained earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in Visual Arts and Design with teaching certification.

Taking inspiration from her Salvadoran heritage, Umanzor blends realism with vibrant color and symbolism to tell stories rooted in Latin American culture and environmental connection. The result is found in paintings, murals, and public art that celebrate identity and place, often featuring native wildlife, plants, and cultural motifs in bright colors.

A significant project is the mural Umanzor created for UHCL at Pearland to commemorate the location's 15^th anniversary in 2025. It features birds in flight representing learning in motion; a graduate in silhouette to illustrate the story of student journeys; and symbols of the health sciences professions that evoke how UHCL at Pearland is helping to shape the region's workforce.

"At its heart, the mural is about resilience and transformation," Umanzor said. "My hope is that it inspires students to stay curious, open-minded, and willing in every part of their journey."

Resilience and transformation were also the themes of Umanzor's own journey at UHCL. After graduating from YES Prep Southeast in 2014, Houston-born Umanzor entered UHCL as a first-generation college student. She cites her family as a key supporter of her decision to pursue art.

"I'm the youngest and have an older brother and older half-sister, and my entire family has always been super supportive," she said. "Latinas are typically not encouraged to pursue a creative field. We're typically encouraged to pursue a field where you can get a steady-paying job.

"But my family was incredibly supportive, and I finished my degree because of my mom. I didn't want her to feel that she crossed the border (from her native El Salvador) for nothing. I did the normal job that most parents want their kids to have: I was an elementary art schoolteacher for two-and-a-half years. But then (I) began pursuing art as a full-time career."

UHCL gave her an environment and mentors she feels no other university could have, she said.

"What attracted me to UHCL is that it didn't feel like a big school. Professors knew me by name. One of my very first art professors was Lauren Yandell. She took time to get to know me and my work, and encouraged and pushed me to pursue my art."

UHCL gave her both the emotional and natural setting that enabled her to succeed, she said.

"I feel, as a first-generation Latina (student), you don't want to feel like a sore thumb sticking out. At UHCL, I didn't feel like an outlier. I belonged.

"I also love that UHCL is on this protected patch of nature. It's the only time I see deer in a natural setting within the boundaries of Houston. I absolutely love that!

"I love the pond; I love the woods. I remember going to college and feeling like I was in nature. You don't feel like you're in the city anymore."

Nature themes permeate her art with scenes of Salvadoran-inspired vistas featuring plants, animals, birds, and other wildlife in fiery colors. She is also a skilled portraitist, featuring subjects in natural settings.

"I've worked on projects across the U.S. and abroad," she said. "Through all of my art, I aim to spark connection, pride, and a deeper appreciation for the world around us."

For information on pursuing a degree in art, visit the UHCL website at https://www.uhcl.edu/human-sciences-humanities/departments/humanities-and-fine-arts/art-design/. To see Umanzor's art, visit her website at https://www.lizzzarts.com.