The Onceupon Art Exhibition brings together seventeen artists from across the country, each one offering their own visual interpretation of the children’s storybook that shaped them, moved them, or sparked their imagination. As the curator, and also an exhibiting artist in this show, this theme resonates deeply with me. I grew up with books at a time when handheld gadgets were rare and simple joys filled our days. We played outside, invented worlds with our friends, and stepped into the roles of characters we adored, whether they were fairies, explorers, princes, warriors, or curious children stumbling into magical lands. Storybooks fed our imaginations so richly that we did not just read them. We lived in them.
For many of us millennials, these books were our earliest teachers. They nurtured empathy, curiosity, and emotional resilience. They taught us how to dream, how to ask questions, and how to create worlds of our own. Reading at a young age develops language, encourages emotional growth, strengthens memory, and opens the mind to new possibilities. Even as adults, many of us carry those early imaginings with us, still finding comfort, inspiration, and a sense of wonder in stories.
The artists gathered for this show come from different backgrounds and artistic approaches, including painters, illustrators, and mixed-media artists, each with a unique voice. A few chose the same books, yet each artwork feels entirely distinct. That is the beauty of creativity. The same story can bloom into completely different worlds depending on who reads it.
The featured books include beloved classics like The Little Prince, with its poetic reflections on innocence and human connection. The Jungle Book, filled with lessons of belonging and bravery. Peter Pan, the story that reminds us that wonder does not need to fade. Pinocchio, a lesson in truth and growth. The Secret Garden, a tale of healing and quiet transformation. And The Velveteen Rabbit, a tender story about love making us real. Some artists drew inspiration from fantasy epics like Harry Potter, which shaped an entire generation’s sense of magic and friendship. Others chose Filipino childhood staples like Ang Munting Gamo-Gamo, weaving cultural memory into their work. These books, along with the others represented in the exhibition, have touched children across decades, teaching kindness, courage, imagination, and the freedom to dream.
This exhibition also partners with Books on Wheels, a community-led mobile library initiative devoted to improving literacy in underserved areas of Valencia. Managed by retired senior professionals with backgrounds in education and community work, Books on Wheels brings reading materials directly to children. Their mission is to create access, nurture curiosity, and foster meaningful intergenerational connection. A portion of the exhibition’s sales will be donated to support their efforts, with the hope of passing on the same spark of imagination that shaped us to the children who need it most.
Onceupon is more than a showcase of artworks. It is a celebration of the worlds that raised us, the stories that shaped who we are, and the creativity that continues to grow from those early pages. May this exhibition remind us of the wonder we once held as children, and the magic we still carry within us today.
Sabrina Skye Benito Curator & Exhibiting Artist
