I am a first-generation, Latinx/POC writer, visual artist, and author of two novels, Born from Ashes and Beyond Everyday Secrets. My short fiction has appeared in Litro Magazine, The Plentitudes Journal, Oyster River Pages, and other publications. In 2018 and 2021, I was a finalist in the Seattle Film Summit/Bigfoot Script Challenge; in the interim, I was a 2019 PEN Writer’s Award recipient. I was fortunate to be awarded artist residencies at Centrum, Vashon Artist Residency, Sitka Center for Arts and Ecology, and international residencies in Spain and Germany. In 2025, I was awarded an Artist Trust Fellowship Award. My artwork has been accepted for publication and or exhibition at Art Week, Pictura Journal, Visual Art Journal, Lowlife Lit Press, The Vagabond’s Verse Literary Magazine, Gallerium Art Exhibitions’ 3rd Annual People 2025 Exhibition, Gallerium and The Book of Arts’ 3rd Annual Shapes and Colors 2025 Exhibition, and Exhibizone’s 2nd Annual International Future 2025 Exhibition. I have earned a BA in English and a certificate in Professional and Technical Communications from San Jose State University, a certificate in Writing from the University of Washington, and an MFA in Creative Writing from Goddard College. I accredit my noted achievements, current pursuits, and future successes to my family members who encouraged and supported my artist lifestyle, endured historically harder obstacles, and made constant sacrifices in the name of love. For more information, please visit: ernestlangston.com.

This is a complicated question to answer, but as a first-generation, first son from an interracial, failed marriage, I am intrinsically drawn to writing about historically marginalized people struggling to break free from oppressive traditional obligations and find love, equality, and acceptance or, at the very least, tolerance within their families and society. It is these everyday people, regardless of color and creed, navigating through self-discovery, familial and societal expectations, and developing self-love and courage to be their most authentic selves in a world that wants to categorize them that I find most interesting. My memory and experience play a substantial role in my writing, a bittersweet, evolving perspective on the human condition with increased empathy for those who cling to the foolish notion that they know everything.

Over the last few years (generally speaking), I have temporarily departed from mostly writing from a male POV (narrator/protagonist) to female and or LGBTQ characters/storylines. This creative decision was more personal, a way to further my development and perspective as a writer, and less about commercial trends. Good and heartfelt writing is indisputably rooted in the human condition; and as I mentioned earlier, I am interested in writing and reading about marginalized people in society; women, for example, for whatever nonsensical reason, have and continue to suffer from inequality. As an artist, I must continue to push my artistic boundaries, grow in new and unimaginable ways, explore the unexplored, and stand with the less fortunate in society.

Curiosity. I am constantly trying to find a deeper understanding of my external and internal worlds and the connections between the two, which seems to be a continuous act of introspection. As a youth, I created out of boredom, a Spanglish-speaking kid with an overactive imagination who often escaped into a fictional world, where the events unfolded with more predictability. Since those adolescent years, I have knowingly written and painted to find comfort and meaning in my finite existence; through my art, I hope to help others navigate life’s mysteries with additional ease and grace.

I am sincerely honored and grateful to be one of the fifteen 2025 Artist Trust Fellowship Award recipients. This significant award has greatly impacted my creative career and arrived at the perfect time. Like most individuals working in the Arts, I am constantly developing my craft and “paying my dues” as some would say. As I pursue a successful life as an artist (writer/visual artist), I continue making numerous sacrifices, social, financial, and otherwise, to further my artistic development. This Artist Trust Fellowship Award is an undeniable indication of my artistic validation, credibility, and inclusivity—a calling card that reassures me that I am on the right path. In addition to the artistic encouragement, this generous grant has provided financial support, so I have time to create and develop longer works of fiction, consequently, creating additional future opportunities. This award is an unforgettable achievement, a milestone in my writing life, and an indelible experience I can reflect upon for future motivation and reassurance.

Artist Trust is an invaluable organization for Washington artists, especially in unprecedented, tumultuous, and divisive times. All artists across all mediums require time, support, and financial resources to continue creating art. Yet, these necessities are becoming increasingly scarce as well as the once-popular sentiment that art (created by humans) has an integral role within a cultured and civilized society. Washington artists, like most artists, face old and new socioeconomic challenges as they attempt to create and maintain their artistic careers. Artist Trust unifies Washington artists and fosters artistic endeavors by providing an inclusive community with a multifaceted, wide-spanning support system. Artist Trust can continue supporting Washington artists by keeping in lockstep with marketing advancements that bolster public awareness of the organization’s mission, vision, and values, reinvigorating its unwavering presence and dedication to Washington artists.