Artwork by Celeste Santistevan

As a visual artist, I find portraiture as a way to convey emotion, social narratives and personal stories. Portraits, for me, are not just representations of the external; they are a window into identity, struggle and hope. I am particularly drawn to experimenting with color, expression, unique features, and combining beauty with ugly. My style is somewhat illustrative, with elements of the subject's environment or emotional state interwoven.

I am from Avondale, Colorado and graduated from Colorado State University of Pueblo in 2022 with a Bachelor’s in Fine art. My academic journey assisted in finding how I wanted to find my style and speak my voice through art. My work spans across multiple formats from intimate painting to large scale murals as well as illustrations and design. Through each medium I experiment with, I seek to engage the viewer in dialogue about how it makes them feel, playfulness, and shared narratives.

My work has participated in community art shows where I have had the privilege of sharing it with diverse audiences. I’ve had several solo exhibitions as well, which have allowed me to showcase the evolution of my practice while experiencing connections with those that encounter my work.

In every piece I create, I strive to produce work that is not only visually compelling but also full of meaning. I am passionate about using art as a tool to speak thoughts I have a hard time saying out loud, but sometimes, it’s just for fun.