We were lucky to catch up with Serena Ray recently and have shared our conversation below.

Serena, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today We’d love to hear about a project that you’ve worked on that’s meant a lot to you.

It all starts in the sketchbook. In my case, a worn-down broken one covered in stickers I cultivated from my study abroad. The senseless scribbles, the jotting down of notes in the middle of math class, the lined paper cut-outs of ideas taken from an outsider’s view of a protest; everything in that messy spiral held one common characteristic: experiment. Ever since I was in elementary school, testing creative forms has been my wheelhouse. From arts and crafts to recreating my favorite Disney show characters on paper, artistic expression came in various forms; no limits were imposed. Yet, the most transformative moment occurred when I combined social justice with visual art – a true experiment that grew into the practice of creating impact beyond colors composed on a page.

As I expanded into art advocacy, choosing gun violence as my cause, I knew that I had to attach a new meaning to every work I began. Each piece I create explores a different side of advocacy – peace, solution, despair, optimism, and even pessimism. For example, one of my works juxtaposes a colorful surrealist portrait with depictions of student hopelessness, using symbolism to confront the audience with the cost of gun violence. Another one of my pieces explores hope, placing the audience into what I call ‘the social justice courtroom’ filled with phrases of advocacy that instill belief in the practice of resilience especially in legal contexts. Careful research and creative messaging allow me to explore how each element of an artwork can lead to inquiry and actionable calls to motivation.

The highlight of my artistic journey was putting together my very own art advocacy gallery – a culmination of over a year’s worth of artwork by myself and my peers in Austin Youth Gun Violence Awareness. Watching my audience pause, reflect, and inquire as they viewed each artwork solidified my belief that creativity is truly about amplifying shared voices and combining passion with action.

Serena, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

As a high school student, I got into art advocacy in a bit of an unorthodox manner. I had always been a fine arts student, but I knew that my primary passion was social justice and public policy. After spearheading a group project that ignited my interest in gun violence, I decided to start an organization of my own, calling it Austin Youth Gun Violence Awareness in the fall of 2023. Initially, this project started as a public policy-focused initiative, but I soon realized that what seemed like simply a creative hobby could be instrumental in reaching youth and driving tangible change. Thus began the combination of two spheres, which allowed me to pursue both my passions together. So far, my organization has produced 11 advocacy artworks, 9 of which were created by myself. I focus on exploring color theory and how this interacts with surrealism, portraiture, and symbolic elements. One of my works won a Gold Key scholastic art award in 2024, and was also featured in a Texas Gun Sense art auction in the fall. My main motive with art advocacy is to uplift youth and student voices, and I do this through emotional connection and mobilization.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

The main goal in mind is to change the youth narrative as it pertains to gun violence in our community. So often, youth are desensitized to what is unfortunately the leading cause of death for our age group. Unfortunately, gun violence in its gravity affects every student, regardless of where they come from. As news article after news article show, so many young meaningful lives slip away without action, and this was a fact that I was not ready to live with. Though it may be a constant, and difficult fight for change, fighting for community gun violence prevention and safer schools is a rewarding pursuit, and one that is motivated singly by hope.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

A year following the start of my advocacy journey, I grew my efforts into new areas. As I sat at my school district’s PRIDE event raising awareness for the disproportionate impact of gun violence on marginalized groups, a noticeable detail stuck with me that influenced a new drive for action. Instead of students taking the primary interest in gun violence prevention, it was their parents. My conversations with these parents carried a variety of opinions on gun ownership. This diversity taught me the importance of listening without judgment and framing safety as a goal that does not have to fall on party lines. The frequency and urgency of these discussions highlighted a gap in accessible, actionable information on gun safety and mental health in my local community.

Though dealing with opinions so vastly different to mine, even in my own family, has not always been the most easy feat, using this contention to strengthen my resolve has made me a stronger and more resilient advocate and individual. In learning lessons through all sides of an issue, I have gained a more nuanced perspective that allows me to continue my advocacy work even more successfully.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.youthgva.com
• Instagram: @youth.gva
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/austin-youth-gun-violence-awareness-youth-gva/?viewAsMember=true