Jingo M. de la Rosa

I’ve often been told that my Mom is in “a better place.” I’m still not sure what that means, honestly. I’m not even sure if it’s a question of where. I simply believe that she’s better. Better than anything this tired and weary world could offer, and better than you and I could ever comprehend or discern. I will always ache for her, but that same ache is what gives me hope for something far greater than the love I have for her. But if love were a place? Maybe, just maybe… that’s where she is. And today, on what would have been her 73rd trip around the sun, she’s more perfect than ever.

Some recent work for the @childrensmuseum , who’s celebrating their 100th birthday this year! The task was to bring together some of the museum’s famous icons while also categorizing them into three different themes that represent their centennial: Memories, Wonder, and Dreams. The artwork also had to be formatted in such a way that it can fit into a wide variety of applications: large format banners, merchandise, publications, and even @sunkingbrewing beer cans. This was a challenging project— but it’s also the kind of work I live for. Not only was I able to be a small part of a huge milestone, but I also stretched my skills in creative problem solving. I also worked at the museum many years ago, so doing this for them was a true full circle moment. Special thanks to Ryan and Jenny for the creative direction and trust!

Happy Hearts’ Day from The Heartland on this @nbaallstar week! As a kid, I’d watch the Slam Dunk contest on VHS since we didn’t have cable. Relatives from the states would record them on tape and send them over to the Philippines. I watched Michael Jordan and Dominique Wilkins soar towards the basket, and it simply captured my imagination. “Heartland Slam” was inspired by this childhood memory, along with mine and Indiana’s love affair with basketball. If you’re in town for All-Star weekend, you can check it out downtown, on the corner of Illinois and Washington. Some thanks: - to my Ninang @emelindadlr and the dlR fam for recording and sending those VHS tapes. - to the @artscouncilindy for facilitating this project. - to the @nba for the trust. - to my friend @kbowersock for taking incredible photos of the mural. - to my love @de.la.rosemary for holding the fort down at home while I worked on this. - to Jesus, my Savior— who always straightens my path. #jingoillo #art #illustration #illustrator #creative #sketch #drawing #mural #muralart #basketball #indiana #indianapolis #indy #nbaallstar #nbaallstarweekend

When I look back at the lowest points of my life, my Mom was always the first to reach out even before I’d say anything. My phone would ring, and she’d tell me she called because “she just felt something was wrong.” I once asked her how she knew, and without stuttering, she said: “Our navels were once attached. Everything you feel, I feel. You and I… we’re always connected.“ I never really fully understood what she meant until she passed away. For a while, I felt an overwhelming sense of numbness that I couldn’t shake off. Then I remembered her words, and it all made sense. When she died, a part of me died. But somehow, those same words still ring true despite her absence. I still feel her in the inner depths of my soul. Call me crazy, but my longing for her is perhaps a longing for all things to be right again. And the crazier part? When that day comes… when the world is restored into what it was always meant to be… she will be even more my Mother, and I, even more her son. #MothersDay

🔆 Meet @jingoillo , one of the inspiring creatives you’ll see at our Open House presented by Glick Philanthropies!! 🔆 Jingo is a professional Illustrator, having worked with world-renowned companies such as Penguin-Random House and Duncan Toys. As an Arts for Learning Indiana Teaching Artist, he will be leading community murals via sidewalk chalk with families who attend our Open House celebration! Mark your calendar for this FREE community event! All are welcome! 📆 June 27, 11 AM – 3 PM 📍3328 E 10th St., Indianapolis 🎨 Enjoy open galleries, collaborative murals, hands-on artmaking for all ages, local food, and community connection. ✨Want to be a sponsor? Contact [email protected] #Arts4LearningIN #Indianapolis #IndyArts #IndyEvents #IndianapolisEvents #IndyArtist #IndyArtScene #AFLOpenHouse @1000wordsindy @jbncenters @audreys.newfurniture @genebglick

Meet CAMi studio artists Gab Peabody, India Hines, Jen Broemel, and Jingo M. de la Rosa! ✏️ • Peabody (@verygabart ) is an Indianapolis-based artist working in digital illustration and sculpture. Inspired by everyday life, her colorful, cartoon-like work highlights the humor and absurdity of the mundane. • Hines (@indijart ) is a self-taught artist from Denver, raised in Indianapolis, who uses ink, watercolor, and oil paint to explore spirituality and the subconscious. Their intuitive, figurative work reflects themes of growth, resilience, and self-discovery. • Broemel (@jen.broemel ) is a fiber artist who transitioned from architecture to a studio practice. She has exhibited widely, created public works, and produced a blog, poetry project, and art zine, with work published in books and magazines. • de La Rosa (@jingoillo ) is an illustrator, educator, and community artist whose clients include the NBA, NCAA, and Houston Symphony. A native of Manila, he now lives in Indianapolis and teaches at Herron and Butler. Find more about these artists, the other CAMi studio creatives, and opening week events at the link in our bio 🔗

Golden hour in Broad Ripple. What I used: - @stillmanandbirn Beta sketchbook - @rembrandtartistpaint watercolors - @fabercastellglobal Polychromos pencils #uskindy

A cold winter morning in @carmel_library . What I used: - @rembrandtartistpaint watercolors - @fabercastellglobal Polychromos pencils - @stillmanandbirn Beta sketchbook #uskindy

Gary, a regular at one of my most beloved places in Indy. Speaking of regulars— Hey, @calvinfletcherscoffeeco : Is there a way I can convince you to make your Banana Butterscotch latte a regular on your menu? Asking for me. What I used: - @rembrandtartistpaint watercolors - @fabercastellglobal Polychromos pencils - @stillmanandbirn Beta sketchbook #uskindy

Past Tense is about pain and hope, the now and not quite yet, and the tension between those things. Artist de la Rosa's hope for this show is that the attendees won't see an artist "paralyzed by his loss, but rather someone who is transformed by it." Visit the link in bio to read more about the show and browse the Online Gallery.

Last meetup of the year for @indyurbansketchers at @hoteltangofletcherplace ! We sketched, we had drinks, and we did a White Elephant gift exchange. I always love sketching at Hotel Tango, especially during the Christmas season. The warm tones, the festive decorations, and the cozy atmosphere are simply perfect. The bar’s always a great subject, too. Thanks for (unknowingly) modeling for me, @heysaraceno and @ladymadepotteryco ! 😁 What I used: - @rembrandtartistpaint watercolors - @stillmanandbirn Beta sketchbook - @fabercastellglobal Polychromos pencils #uskindy

In Past Tense, memory takes the shape of a city transformed after loss. What was once ordinary becomes charged with memory, revealing fragments of what once was, and what it will be from now on. Despite the echoes of absence, new meanings emerge, and hope is renewed. Join me on December’s First Friday at the @harrisoncenterarts City Gallery for my solo show, Past Tense. New, never before seen work that explores memory, loss, and hope.