Hey there, I’m Sista

Thanks for stopping by to check out what I make! This is where I get to talk about why I make.

I am an artist born and raised in Colorado, currently living in Steamboat Springs. I play with a variety of mediums in my work, exploring cycles of death/rebirth and creating space for internal transformation through honoring grief, change, and loss for myself and others. These themes are the consistent threads weaving throughout my artwork, while their physical manifestations include drawing, painting, mixed media, sculpture, or interdisciplinary performance.

My subject matter can speak to these death/rebirth cycles - such as animal skulls, flora, and fungi in my weekly ink drawings. Other times my process and materials carry the entity of transformation and grief. Through the alchemy of using my old artwork as a medium in making new art, I tend to the loss of beliefs, patterns and connections; giving myself grace to build from the ashes anew. In this process coined, Artwork Alchemy, I destroy my old artwork by either physically tearing it up and using the paper pieces to construct a 3D work, or introducing new marks, mediums and forms to transform the original piece, giving it new life. This process uses the catalyst energy in an act of destruction to then flow into creation with the pieces of the fallout - a tangible ritual engaging the death/rebirth cycle. 

While Artwork Alchemy started as a very internal, contained practice, I have been lucky enough to share and grow this work beyond my personal process. In 2016, I participated in a collaborative, immersive exhibition; Palettes: A Feast for the Senses, showcasing interdisciplinary artworks appealing to multiple senses. My co-collaborator and I invited audience members to write/draw an internal aspect of themselves or their past that no longer served them on provided paper, to then be released through the tearing and casting of their papers in a ritual of communal catharsis. After the performance ended, I gathered the torn pieces of paper of release and have since used them as a medium in creating new art. This Paper Alchemy process is a continuation of that communal catharsis, honoring participants’ intent of release by transforming it into a new form as mixed media artwork. For me, this work acts as a microcosm of a cultural macrocosm we are collectively seeming to reckon with, for we are not beholden to the original incarnation of any belief, system, idea, or tradition – we have the power to change it.   

I’m just out here trying to stay interested and connected in a world that profits off my apathy and division from others. Making keeps me connected and growing, for creative growth cannot happen in a vacuum. Community is integral for creative development. Through co-founding YBC, a nonprofit artist collective in Routt County, Colorado, it has been my honor to help provide support and space for fellow makers to grow creatively and collaborate on larger projects, performances and events. We all just want to be seen and to connect with those that resonate with our marks, so let’s get to making some.

For the curious wondering about my name, it is pronounced “See-sta” - the “i” makes a long “E” sound. It’s Spanish and a family name, from my paternal grandmother, Sixta Luna. She was born in Mexico, her family was very Catholic, and her birthday fell on the day of Pope Sixtus IV (IDK, I guess the Catholic calendar had a pope or saint for every day of the year). My parents decided to change the “x” in “Sixta” to an “s” and, voilà!

photo via Matt Lundy

< CV >

EDUCATION

  • 2010 BA - Concentration: Studio Art (Drawing/Painting), Colorado College - Colorado Springs, CO

EXHIBITIONS & ARTISAN FAIRS

EXHIBITIONS

  • 2023 AI-Morphosis Group Show, Niza Knoll Gallery - Denver, CO

  • 2023 DAILY INK Solo Show, Ed Beady Hall Art Gallery - Greeley, CO

  • 2023 ASHES to ASHES Solo Show, Balefire Goods - Arvada, CO

  • 2022 GIFT a Member’s Show, The Depot - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2022 Ashes to Ashes Solo Show, The Barley - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2022 Queer & OUT in Routt County Group Show, Bliss Hall - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2022 Colorado Wolf Reintroduction: A Conversation Through Creativity Group Show, Bliss Hall - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2022 ESC June Wolf Month Celebration showcase, Odell Brewing - Denver, CO

  • 2022 Solo drawing showcase, Dusky Grouse - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2022 The Human Figure Group Show, R Gallery - Boulder, CO

  • 2021 Containment: Stories of Art in Isolation Group Show, Arc Gallery - San Francisco, CA

  • 2021 A Thousand Words Group Show, Core New Art Space - Lakewood, CO

  • 2021 Use of Negative Space Group Show, R Gallery - Boulder, CO

  • 2021 Colorado Draws Group Show, Spark Gallery - Denver, CO

  • 2020 u n f o l d i n g YBC trio show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2019 TRY IT! Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2019 In Our Shoes community group show and event - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2019 MRKT Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2018, 2019 ART HEALS Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2019 WORD Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2019 NERD OUT Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2018, 2019 PETS! Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2017, 2018,  2019 YBC Open Members’ Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2018 MAGIC Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2018 DIA DE LOS MUERTOS Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2018 Haunted FAIRYTALE Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2018 CRAFT as ART Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2018 Figures Solo Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2018 #FANART Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2018 SCRAP Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2018 LanguageART Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2017 Blind Contour Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2017 Haunted DEEP Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2017 Jim Henson CRANES Group Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2017 Gesture Solo Show, The Ski Locker gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2017 Artist of the Month Solo Show, YBC gallery space - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2017 Breaking Boxes Group Show, Center for Visual Arts - Steamboat Springs, CO 

  • 2016 Harvest Salon Art Exhibit Group Show, Community Creative Center - Fort Collins, CO

  • 2015, 2016 SSAC Summer Members Show, The Depot - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2015, 2016 Palettes: A Feast for the Senses Group Show, The Depot - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2015 SSAC Members GIFT Show, The Depot - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2011, 2013 Art by Craft Group Show, RedLine Contemporary Art Center - Denver, CO

  • 2010 Thesis Solo Show: Transitional in Nature, Packard Hall - Colorado Springs, CO

ARTISAN FAIRS

  • 2020 YBC Virtual Holiday Market -Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2017, 2018 YBC Holiday Market - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2015, 2016 Art in the Park - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2014, 2015 Holidays in the Rockies - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2014 Firefly Handmade Market - Boulder, CO

  • 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012 CC Holiday Market - Colorado Springs, CO

  • 2005, 2006, 2007 Downtown Louisville Street Faire - Louisville, CO

  • 2004, 2005 Unity Church Holiday Market - Boulder, CO

EVENT/EXHIBITION PRODUCTION

  • 2019, 2020 SPEAK: Performances from Women of the Yampa Valley, Producer/Social Media Designer - Routt County, CO

  • 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 YBC monthly group shows/solo exhibits in gallery space, Curator - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2018, 2019, 2020 Snowball: YBC annual fundraiser/member appreciation event, Producer - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2018, 2019, 2020 Wait, You Haven’t Seen That?! The Podcast, Performer/Producer/Illustrator - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2019 In Our Shoes Art Exhibit & Performance, Collaborator/Creative Consultant - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2017, 2018, 2019 YBC Holiday Market, Producer - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2018 Haunted FAIRYTALE: An immersive, theatrical haunted house performance, Producer/set & costume design/Performer - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2017 Haunted DEEP: An immersive, theatrical haunted house performance, Producer/set & costume design/Writer/Performer - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2016, 2017, 2018 Steamboat Pilates & Fitness Give Back Day Fundraiser for Routt County nonprofits, Organizer/Creative Consultant/social media - Steamboat Springs, CO

NONPROFIT EXPERIENCE

  • 2019, 2020 Young Bloods Collective Working Board President - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2017, 2018 Young Bloods Collective Working Board Vice President - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2017 Co-founded 501 c(3) nonprofit, Young Bloods Collective: a creative collective - Steamboat Springs, CO

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE 

Self Employed Artist

  • 2010 - 2020 Custom Commissions including: paintings, drawings, pet portraits, logo design 

  • 2012 - 2019 Handmade paper affirmation stars via Etsy and artisan markets

  • 2004 - 2014 Handmade beaded jewelry via Etsy and artisan markets

Visiting Artist

  • 2023 AIR Studios Artist in Residency - Santa Fe, NM

  • 2015 SSAC Young at Art summer artist instructor - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2011 Colorado College Sculptor Class assisted teaching salt block carving - Colorado Springs, CO

AWARDS/PUBLICATIONS

  • 2023 CanvasRebel Feature - Denver, CO

  • 2022 ART with ALTITUDE: Winter 2022 issue - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2022 SHOUTOUT COLORADO Spotlight - Denver, CO

  • 2019 Steamboat Pilot & Today Twenty Under 40 Honoree - Steamboat Springs, CO

  • 2009 Anderson Ranch Arts Center Summer Workshop Scholarship - Snowmass Village, CO

  • 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010 CC El Pomar Scholarship Recipient - Colorado Springs, CO