(L to R) Workshop participants Asia Stephens, Rita Ramos, Ethel Zafranco, and program coordinator Saidah Gray during the panel discussion at the REDEEMED Exhibition. Photo Credit: Monica Almeida
Ethel Zafranco
Muralist
Ethel Zafranco is a first-generation Mexican-American artist, art therapy graduate student, mother, and co-founder of AQMNI—a mural company committed to healing through community-based art. Raised in an underserved community, she found early inspiration in local arts programs, which sparked her lifelong dedication to accessible arts education and mental health.
After earning her B.A. in Studio Arts from Loyola Marymount University in 2012, Ethel began her career in corporate creative work before shifting to murals and community engagement. Ethel is set to receive her Masters in Art Therapy from Loyola Marymount University in the spring of 2026.
As an ACTA Teaching Artist, Ethel offers a course focused on murals and visual arts called Expansive Expressions as part of ACTA’s Reentry program at D.O.O.R.S. in Antelope Valley.
Alongside her husband, Carlo, Ethel co-founded and designed a mural mentorship program that integrates an art therapy framework with workforce readiness. In 2023, the program received a state grant funded by the California Creative Corps and now operates in partnership with the Antelope Valley Union High School District.
Over the last five years, these efforts have culminated in the creation of Astral Project, a nonprofit dedicated to arts-based healing and community transformation.
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