The Blue Whole Gallery is proud to honor Esther Irene Zetina Sánchez as our September Student of the Month. At just 18 years old, Esther brings an inspiring blend of determination, creativity, and passion to her artistic journey.
Born and raised in Mexico City, Esther lived there until she was 15, when she and her mother moved to Sequim after her mother married. Now in her senior year of high school, Esther is a full-time Running Start student who has embraced both new opportunities and her artistic calling.
Esther’s artistic path began shortly after the pandemic. In 2023, she joined a painting studio in Mexico City with a friend, guided by a teacher who nurtured her early creativity. It was there she created her first two paintings, Jonás and Kedar, both of which were exhibited at the Cultural Center of Iztapalapa that same year.
While painting first sparked her interest, ceramics soon became another creative outlet. In her sophomore year, she took her first ceramics class and quickly developed a love for the medium. Through the Running Start program, she has continued exploring ceramics, creating imaginative and thought-provoking works such as There is Life in Death and Stop Bugging Me.
For Esther, art is more than a hobby—it is becoming a life path. Though she once debated whether to pursue art as a career, this opportunity to share her work at the Blue Whole Gallery has given her the confidence to follow her passion. “I think I will take the risk and do it,” she shares with conviction.
The Blue Whole Gallery celebrates Esther’s courage, creativity, and vision. We look forward to seeing where her journey as an artist will take her.
Esther’s art work is on display throughout the month of September at the Blue Whole Gallery, located at 129 W. Washington St. in Sequim, WA. A The public is invited to view her pieces and attend the First Friday Art Walk on September 5th from 5 to 8 p.m.