One of Cindy Sherman’s Holiday Cards, created to support Transanta.
I was on the subway heading home from Cindy Sherman’s holiday event when a quiet idea settled into place. It felt simple and true. At the end of a year when Motionographer celebrated the brightest work in Motion Design, perhaps the most meaningful thing we could do was shine a light outside our own world.
Toward a gesture of empathy.
Toward a community in need.
Toward Transanta.
This article is not about Motionographer.
It is not about me.
And although Cindy’s presence is woven through every line, it is not about her either.
It is about kindness, and the small ways art can become a lifeline.
How I Met Mi Loca
Years ago, I attended a gala and happened to be seated at a table near a woman no one dared to approach. People whispered her name at every table. They stole glances. They admired politely from a distance. I knew a little about the art world, but I did not know who she was.
So I walked up to her, told her I was a chicken from the Caribbean who did not know anything about her, and that if everyone was talking about her but no one had the cojones to say hello, someone had to fix that.
She laughed. We talked. We connected with the ease of two people who meet through energy, not ego. Later that night a friend showed me her work, and the only word that came to mind was the one that stayed with us forever.
Loca.
We did not exchange contact information that night. A few weeks later, I asked my assistant to help me find her contact so I could reach out. I invited her to eat arepas. That was the real beginning. Dinners, conversations, the building of a lifelong friendship that felt both unexpected and inevitable.
Years later, while home sick with covid, I was watching a Netflix series when her work suddenly appeared on screen. A character spoke about her art with such reverence that I paused the episode. It was the first time I understood the cultural gravity of the woman I knew simply as my Loca.
And I loved that.
I loved discovering her brilliance slowly, through surprise, the way you discover the secret talents of someone you already care for.
Cindy Sherman, whose work has reshaped how we see identity, persona, and ourselves. Photo: Inez & Vinoodh
Who Cindy Sherman Is
For those who may only know her name, Cindy Sherman is one of the most influential American artists of the last fifty years. Her work transformed photography, self-portraiture, and the visual language of identity. She stepped into her own frame at a time when the art world expected women to remain behind the lens. In doing so, she reshaped cultural history.
But for all her impact, in my years working around global leaders, celebrities, politicians, musicians, and athletes, I rarely met anyone as grounded or as genuinely kind. Cindy treats every person with the same warmth, whether it is a guest, a volunteer, or the waiter working the holiday event.
Her generosity is not performative. It is her nature.
Cindy with Chase Strangio, Transanta co-founder. Photo: Christian Germoso
A Holiday Tradition Reimagined
Cindy has hosted holiday gatherings for years, always intimate and warm and filled with friends. But this year marked a quiet evolution. For the first time, she hosted the celebration in a public venue and created a holiday card initiative specifically to support Transanta. The circle widened. The intention deepened. Art became a conduit for support, a bridge toward compassion.
I watched the room fill with familiar faces, volunteers selling cards, performers lighting up the night, and Cindy moving through the space with her signature tenderness. There are people who influence culture and people who influence hearts. Cindy lives in both worlds.
What Transanta Is and Why It Matters
Transanta is a mutual-aid initiative that supports trans youth in need, especially those who are unhoused, living in unsafe homes, or without family support. Young people submit anonymous wishlists during the holidays, and donors fulfill them.
It is one of the most compassionate acts imaginable.
A stranger lifting another stranger’s spirit.
A simple gift that says, you are seen, you are valid, you belong.
In a world that often misunderstands or politicizes young people who are simply trying to live as who they are, Transanta offers something profound.
Acceptance without conditions.
Visibility without risk.
Love without agenda.
There is bravery in fighting for the gender you know you belong to.
Supporting that bravery is one of the purest forms of empathy.
A moment of joy as Cindy and BaeJing share the Holiday Cards, art meeting community in the warmest way. Photo: Christian Germoso
Why Motionographer Is Highlighting This
Motion Design has always been a field rooted in identity, expression, and storytelling. We understand what it means to give voice to the invisible, to create new worlds, to help people feel seen.
After a year honoring extraordinary work at The Motion Awards, it feels right to end by honoring something even more essential.
Compassion.
Community.
The belief that our creativity can lift others.
This moment is an invitation for all of us to extend our care beyond our industry and into the lives of young people who need it most.
The full set of Cindy Sherman’s Holiday Cards, created to raise support for trans youth through Transanta.
How You Can Help
If you are looking for a holiday gift, consider purchasing Cindy Sherman’s holiday cards. All proceeds support Transanta.
If you feel called to go further, visit Transanta and fulfill a wishlist anonymously. A single small gift can change a young person’s holiday. It can remind them they matter.
Joy in motion: BaeJing and Suburbia celebrating the night and the spirit behind the cards. Photo: Christian Germoso
From My Heart to Yours
Wishing you a season filled with warmth, creativity, and human connection.
Wishing you a new year where empathy remains part of our craft and our community.
With love,
Carlos
Here are two beautiful ways to help and support:
To purchase Cindy Sherman’s Holiday Cards and support Transanta through her kindness and generosity, visit:
Cindy Sherman’s Holiday Cards
To fulfill a wishlist anonymously for a trans youth, visit:
Transanta Wishlist
A small gesture can steady a heart, brighten a day, or remind someone they belong.
Kindness has a way of traveling, even when you cannot see where it lands.