Forging her own path: Itala Flores shapes a future in art, fashion and purpose
Inspired by a love for art and determined to seize every opportunity that comes her way, upcoming graduate Itala Flores has forged a remarkable path during her time at Central Piedmont. From showcasing her designs in Parr to speaking at academic conferences nationwide, Itala’s impact has reverberated throughout the campus community and across her academic field.
Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Itala moved to North Carolina in 2004, fulfilling her lifelong dream of moving to the U.S. After marrying, starting a family, and enrolling in English classes at Central Piedmont, her husband’s love for oil painting inspired Itala to pursue her own artistic journey. The couple spent their free time exploring art, sparking her desire to pursue a degree. After attending Central Piedmont 20 years ago, Itala returned to tour the art facilities— and immediately realized she felt at home.
“I’ve been into art since I was a child. I love to work with clay; I love to work with my hands,” Itala recalled. “When I saw the studios for the first time, there was love there.”
She dove into learning, experimenting with ceramics, plastic, glass, and construction materials—across various art forms such as fashion design, sculpture, pottery, and more. She even invented her own pottery technique, a method she named “drypott.” Recently, she designed a dress made from promotional materials for the Truist Honors program, which was put on display in the library on Central Campus. She donated the piece to the college, so that it can remain a symbol of success for years to come.
An Accomplished Artist
In her time at Central Piedmont, Itala stayed busy, making her mark at the school. She hosted her first solo exhibition and fashion show, exhibited her work at the college’s public conference center, placed third in the Student Show, and received a few other awards for purchasing educational materials. Her debut metal sculpture was also selected to be in the 2025 Student Juror Show.
Itala’s success and involvement stemmed far beyond her artistic achievements. She participated in the Truist Honors program, joined the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society, and served as both a student ambassador and an ambassador for the Central Piedmont Foundation. She received the Levine Scholarship, the Kappy McClenaghan Scholarship, and the Board of Trustees Endowed Scholarship. She credits much of her success to mentors she met through these programs, like Dr. Deninne Pritchett and Admissions Director Darrien Page, as well as the many scholarships that supported her along the way.
“The budget has been one of the challenges, but Central Piedmont never let me go down. Always,” she said. “Even at the last minute, Central Piedmont has always helped me with a scholarship, and that was a blessing."
Outside of Central Piedmont, Itala’s artistic career gained momentum in 2017, when she participated in the Art Pop Street Gallery, followed by an invitation to showcase her sustainable designs at Charlotte Fashion Week. From that moment forward, opportunities poured in – from invitations to both Charleston and Paris Fashion Week to collaborations with Team Topher and Opera Carolina. In 2020, she was named Emerging Artist of the Year by Art Si, and in 2021, she received the Hispanic Pride Award from Progreso Hispano. And that’s only a glimpse of what Itala has accomplished.
Today, Itala continues to focus on sustainable fashion, and she dreams of opening her own gallery and studio. Her next step is to complete her bachelor’s in fine art— she has been accepted to Winthrop University for the fall and awarded a $16,000 scholarship.
Her story is far from over, and it serves as a powerful reminder that with passion and determination, every student can forge their own path—supported by the faculty and mentors who champion them every step of the way. At Central Piedmont, no two students are alike, which is why we meet you where you are—to help you get where you dream of going.