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KIPP Texas is proud to prepare students for college, career and beyond. Meet Tomás Rodriguez Aviles, a graduate of KIPP Austin Brave High School, who is proving that art is a powerful way to find your place in the world. His talent was recently recognized on a national level when his work was selected for the 2025 AP Art and Design Exhibit. While his journey is full of hard work, it is also a story of family, great teachers, and the courage to be curious.
A Sister’s Spark and a Search for Meaning
Tomás did not start his journey alone. His biggest inspiration was his older sister. He spent years watching her create and still looks up to her, often saying she is the “better artist” in the family. Her passion gave him the courage to pick up a pencil and start his own search for meaning.
For Tomás, art is more than a hobby; it is his purpose and a way to understand the beautiful, complicated parts of life. Blending his interest in Venetian masks and anime, he explores history and “self”. He bridges the raw energy of graffiti with the traditional, intricate details of Renaissance masters such as Michelangelo. Through the fusion of diverse artistic styles, he crafts “metaphorical masks” that tell the story of chasing your dreams while navigating the journey of growing up in Austin. While his style may remind some of famous artists such as Keith Haring or Picasso, Tomás is crafting a world that is all his own. For him, true brilliance lies where confidence meets curiosity.
Mentorship and the Power of Precision
In middle school, Tomás’s art was loud and chaotic. Everything changed when he met his art teacher, Cassandre Connolly at KIPP Austin Brave. Her passion for art and her belief in his potential helped him turn that chaos into a lifelong commitment. She shared a simple piece of advice that changed how he looked at a canvas: “Less is more.”
Cassandre taught Tomás that being a great artist means being meaningful with every mark. Under her mentorship, he mastered difficult techniques like mold making and acrylic casting to capture tiny, realistic details. Her support gave him the confidence to stop overthinking and start discovering.
Challenging the Norm with Everyday Materials
Tomás believes that art is a purpose, not just a product. To keep himself sharp, he challenges himself to create with any medium he can find. He proves that you do not need expensive supplies to build a masterpiece; you just need a vision and the enjoyment of the process.
- USPS Labels and Duct Tape: He uses these common items to prove that art can happen anywhere, turning shipping supplies into meaningful collages.
- Permanent Markers: Since they cannot be erased, these tools force him to be bold and turn every “mistake” into an intentional part of the design.
- Crayons and Doodling: These materials keep his work high-energy and connected to the fun of creating for art’s sake.
- Cardboard: He uses this everyday material to build complex masks and structures, showing that you do not need expensive supplies to make a masterpiece.
- The Beauty of Cracks: He often compares his art to porcelain. To him, the “cracks” in his work represent experience and a beauty that is earned through time.
“A piece of advice I will give is, no matter what, always make something. You could paint a whole canvas, or even a small doodle. But no matter what happens, always make art. And, especially, be proud of what you make, and be proud of who you are.” — Tomás Rodriguez Aviles
This dedication to “creating for art’s sake” is exactly what is leading Tomás to the Savannah College of Art and Design (SCAD), one of the best art schools in the world. His story shows that when you are proud of the act of making, you learn to be proud of who you are.
Want to see his amazing feature? Check out his full gallery on the official College Board website: Tomás Rodriguez Aviles – AP Art and Design Exhibit
