• by Erik Oster , October 26, 2023

When you think “patron of the arts,” you might not think of Sun Chips. But this month, the Frito-Lay brand is giving underrepresented artists a platform through its “Art Seen” program.

Last week, SunChips unveiled the winning artists from this year's "Art Seen" submissions, and shared the artwork it will feature on SunChips bags for sale at retailers across the country. Their art will also be featured in murals in their hometowns, as well as on SunChips' social media channels.

"With less than 15% of art in permanent collections in the U.S. created by women and people of color, SunChips was inspired to drive a greater impact in the art community,” said Frito-Lay Vice President of Marketing Rhasheda Boyd in a press release. “Featuring these artists' work on our packaging in retailers nationwide allows us to do our part to offer more exposure for these talented individuals in unexpected ways."

The winners are Los Angeles artist Darnell "Solo" Kirkwood,  Baltimore artist Megan Lewis, and Maruja Panti, a "self-made" artist from Catanduanes, Philippines.

Commissioned work by Kirkwood -- whose art empowers him to “creatively shift narratives” –appears on SunChips Garden Salsa flavor, and is dedicated to the travails of dreamers and visionaries pushing against the odds, according to a brand statement.

Lewis primarily works on paintings of Black men and women, typically depicted in a resting position with a focus on facial features accented by thick paint strokes and swings of color. Her brand-commissioned work will appear on bags of SunChips Harvest Cheddar and depicts a harvest season with vibrantly colored botanical elements.

Commissioned work by Panti, whose art centers around feminism, beauty, and struggles faced by people today, will appear on SunChips Original flavor packages, with a theme of embracing individuality in pursuit of personal passions.

The brand is also donating $100,000 to over 30 artists through the nonprofit YoungArts. Sun Chips is also calling on fans to participate in an interactive Snapchat lens experience featuring the work of YoungArts artist Glenn Espinosa through Nov. 5 to fuel further donations to YoungArts for each Snap shared, up to $40,000. Fans can also access the interactive experience through the campaign landing page.