Navya Duggirala is a fourth-year undergraduate pursuing a BA in Art. Their research explores a critical juncture in the production and understanding of art by young people today. Through qualitative inquiry, they investigate how young artists are challenging Enlightenment ideals, asserting their right to resist transparency, and embracing new forms of abstraction. Grounded in critical theory, Navya’s work distills and documents these shifting perspectives into a series of manifestos. They aim to use this research as a foundation for future art production and to contribute to decolonial consciousness. After their time at UCLA, Navya plans to pursue a graduate degree in the humanities while continuing their studio art practice.