Springfield artist a finalist in national competition

SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (WICS/WRSP) — Between a global pandemic to now protests happening nationwide, 2020 has been a year to remember.

Art is one of the ultimate ways we record key events in history. Michelle Smith is a pencil artist from Springfield, Illinois gaining recognition over her powerful t-shirt design.

Michelle Smith drew the design for Ralph Lauren's Design for Good competition.

Artists from around the world were given the opportunity to design the next polo shirt.

Her design titled "Just Let Me Breathe" features a picture of her son wearing a mask and the word hope.

“It was just heavy on my heart to draw something that reflected at the time the Ahmaud Arbery incident," Smith said. "I needed to put down the fear of a black mother how I felt raising a black son.”

Smith admits to being a Ralph Lauren fan and was happy to see an email for the art competition titled the “The Polo Project” inviting artists nationwide to create a t-shirt for COVID-19 relief.

She’s one of 10 finalists for a national competition.

The winner will be announced on June 16.

All proceeds of the sale of the shirt go to the World Health Organization for COVID-19 relief.