Crissalas

Hola!

I am a mixed media artist, working with drawing, fiber, ceramics, paint, found objects, the possibilities are endless. The medium varies depending on how best to tell a story and create characters that allow the work to inhabit a space. Although my process is intuitive, and free-flowing I incorporate an intentional design philosophy that defines a sense of place. Symbolism reveals a spiritual relationship with the natural environment connecting people to each other and connecting humans to plants, trees and animals. I am often working in a public place, interacting with the built environment or interior architecture. I see myself as a place-maker with a responsibility to the people and communities who are connected to a place. The work is inherently generous meant to give the viewer a joyful experience.

I was born in 1985 in Quito, Ecuador. I studied fine art at the Accademia delle Belle Arti di Firenze, Italy from 2004-2007. I moved to Paris for one year and I attended the drawing course at Ateliers Beaux Arts, Glacière, France. I did a master in Art Production from Universidad Politècnica de Valencia from 2008 to 2010. After that, I moved back to Quito and started to work on mosaic murals, textile dolls and art exhibits. Between 2011 and 2012 I participated in 3 residencies: in Liceo de Chesnoy, France, Fist Art Foundation in Puerto Rico and Latin American Art with FONCA in Mexico. I came back to Quito, Ecuador in 2013 to work on an art workshop for Liceo Internacional School and then I started working as a teacher of ceramic and drawing at Universidad San Francisco de Quito until 2015. In 2018 I graduated with a Master in Architecture from Louisiana State University, United States. I moved to New York to work for Dameron Architecture, where I collaborated in a few mosaic installations at Carroll Hall, event space in Bushwick and others. I now work as a full time artist with a studio practice at home.

~Cristina Salas