Title: Military Sexual Trauma (MST)
Medium: Mixed Media
Dimensions: Height 12”, Width 9”, Depth 3”
Year: Hand Crafted in Oceanside, California (August 2016)
Private Collection -NFS
from the Invisible Wounds, Mask Collection
The inspiration of this collection of masks was to visually demonstrate the invisible wounds
military service members often suffer from. The aim of this collection was to translate parts of
myself that are often inaccessible to others by giving a face to each wound and process of
healing from trauma.
Bio
Luz Helena Thompson is a Colombian artist, instructor and Marine Corps veteran. She is a
self-taught Artist based on the Southern California Coast, best known for the intricate glass
mosaic artwork as well as painting large scale wall murals, watercolor and mixed media
creations. Thompson’s work often explores elements of the individual and collective identity
experienced within the veteran community. Her work highlights topics such as vulnerability,
invisible wounds, military sexual trauma and post-traumatic growth just to name a few.
Thompson received a BS from the California University of Pennsylvania (CALU) and also
received her Master’s Degree from CALU in 2014. She teaches art professionally at “Path
With Art” and she primarily works from her private studio in Oceanside, California. Since
2011, her artwork has been featured in several exhibitions and fundraisers throughout the
United States. Venues include museums and galleries in California, New York, Texas and
Florida. Thompson has also participated in multiple military Veteran Art exhibits where she
often displays artwork from her private collection.
Artist Statement
The intention of my work is to unite the process of self-reflection with a tangible expression
of creativity through imagery, thus appealing to one or more of our senses. The use of
broken glass and mirrors is to demonstrate the shattering of internal emotions that express
a change and rebuilding of self-identity. Each of us possess an internal belief system about
ourselves and though our worlds may have been shattered by devastation, I believe we can
always rebuild and repair. The act of creating something beautiful from the most broken
parts of ourselves is essentially the road we pave on the journey toward healing. The only
guarantee we have in life is the inevitability of change and through my artwork I attempt to
redefine the outcome of being, beautifully broken.
