CONTACT
email : samanthamariaespinoza@gmail.com
instagram : @xoc.hitl
BIO
Samantha Maria Xochitl Espinoza is a Chicana artist coming from a Mexican and Salvadoran family. She grew up in L.A and in Denver, CO and currently resides on Lisjan Ohlone land (Oakland, CA). She references living in between worlds, identities, and homes as a marker of her queer, Chicana experience. Her work reveals her generational and personal history, moments, and traumas as openings for wider conversations on racialized, gendered, and capitalist oppressions. She creates art solely for other brown women to enjoy, and as a gift to her communities in the hopes that they will see parts of themselves reflected or whispered within her work. She is a youth educator, organizer, daughter, sister and falls in love frequently.
ARTIST STATEMENT
Using found fabric and paper that may otherwise be considered scrap, I recreate and reimagine scenes of our racialized realities, the testimonies of Chicanas with emphasis on our innermost thoughts. Through printmaking and the incorporation of fabric, my work illustrates the precarities that Chicanas exist within this imposed country, our emotional lives, and how nature reflects our collective circumstances. Within my print and textile explorations exists an ongoing conversation regarding the borders of this land and how our patterns of migration, separation, and generational trauma can be found in our surroundings, emphasizing the colonized history of all that we interact with. By incorporating writing into my printwork – not as captions, but as integral images within a print – I choose to emphasize the distinct stories that inspire the visuals so that the work is unmistakable in meaning. In highlighting the narratives of ignored perspectives, there is a distinct choice in listening prior to drawing, inking, and creating.
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CV
Samantha Maria Xochitl Espinoza
samanthamariaespinoza@gmail.com
samanthamariaespinoza.com
EDUCATION
2027 Masters of Fine Arts, Interdisciplinary Concentration.
San Francisco State University. San Francisco, CA.
2020 Fabrication and Welding Program. Laney College,
Oakland, CA.
2018 Bachelors of Fine Arts, Individualized Program,
Printmaking and Textiles Concentration. California
College of the Arts, Oakland, CA.
NOTABLE EXHIBITIONS
2026 Ni de Aqui Ni de Alla, Museo de las Américas, Denver,
Squish a Bug, Martin Wong Gallery, San Francisco, CA.
(Forthcoming)
2022 Solo Exhibition, 2727 California Street, Berkeley, CA.
2018 Manzanilla Solo Show, Isabelle Percy West Gallery,
Oakland, CA.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 Community Quilting for Gaza, Echo Park, Los Angeles,
CA.
Flowers for Palestine - Community for Mutual Aid, Eli’s
Mile High Club, Oakland, CA.
Solano Stroll, Solano Neighborhood Association,
Berkeley, CA.
2023 Abrazame Muy Fuerte, Evolved SF, San Francisco, CA.
2021 Pop-up for Kadamay, Virtual Fundraiser by Gabriela,
Oakland, CA.
2020 Common Field Virtual Conference, Virtual Experience
by Common Field.
It’s A Moment, ProArts Gallery, Oakland, CA.
Rest is Power, in collaboration with the Manetti Shrem
Museum and UC Davis, Davis, CA.
2019 A Reminder for the Black and Brown Body to Dream,
CTRL + SHFT Collective, Oakland, CA.
Wolfman Monthly Printed Calendars, Wolfman Books,
Oakland, CA.
VisibiliT: Support Trans Women Migrants, Era Art Bar,
Oakland, CA.
En Este Momento, Alchemy Collective, Berkeley, CA.
Immigration is a Human Right, Station 40, San
Francisco, CA.
Cumbiaton, Galería de la Raza, San Francisco, CA.
Queer Ancestors Project, Strut!, San Francisco, CA.
2018 PAVE!!! A Group Show of Queer, Trans, and POC Artists
and Skateboarders, New Image, Los Angeles, CA.
AS BRIGHT AS YELLOW, Deli Gallery, New York, NY.
The Multivrs is Illuminated, ATA Gallery, San
Francisco, CA.
From Among the Stars: 18th Annual Night of Cultural
Resistance, UC Berkeley Multicultural Center. Oakland,
CA.
First of All... Students of Color Coalition 7th Annual
Exhibition, Isabelle Percy West Gallery, Oakland, CA.
Ode to the Human Worker, Group exhibition curated by
Katie Johnson, Isabelle Percy West Gallery, Oakland,
CA.
Love Show: A Valentine Exhibition, Group exhibition of
printwork curated by Julianne Villegas, Blatner Print
Studio, Oakland, CA.
2017 Rolling Counterpoint Installation, lead artist Taro
Hattori, Community Art Project with featured artists,
San Francisco, CA.
Indi●Visible●Lines, Individualized group exhibition
curated by Taro Hattori, College Avenue Galleries,
Oakland, CA.
Fine Arts Spring Junior Review, Oliver Art Center,
California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA.
2016 Textales, Narrative Stitches Exhibition at College
Avenues Galleries, California College of the Arts,
Oakland, CA.
RECLAIM: Students of Color Coalition Group Exhibition,
Isabelle Percy West Gallery, Oakland, CA.
Mind Control Art Fair with Nook Gallery, Y2K Gallery,
San Francisco, CA.
Deconstruct the Gaze, curated by Malaya Tuyay, Blattner
Print Studios at California College of the Arts, Oakland,
CA.
Show #1, curated by Nook Gallery at Nook Gallery,
Oakland, CA.
Our Gallery is Your Living Room, A Community Art
Residency, College Avenue Galleries, Oakland, CA.
2015 Revisions: 5th Annual Students of Color Coalition
Exhibition, College Avenue Galleries, Oakland, CA.
2014 First Year Honors Program at California College of the
Arts, College Avenue Galleries, Oakland, CA.
Crossroads: 4th Annual Students of Color Coalition
Exhibition, College Avenue Galleries, Oakland, CA.
RESIDENCIES
2022 Women’s Studio Workshop, Studio Residency Grant,
March 7th-April 16th, Rosendale, New York.
2021 2727 California Street, Shared Studio Residency, August-
October, Berkeley, CA.
2020 Lazuli Residency, Recipient of Equity Scholarship
(delayed due to COVID), Corinth, Vermont.
American Institute of Thoughts and Feelings, Recipient
of Diversity Scholarship (delayed due to COVID), Tucson,
Arizona.
2019 In Cahoots Residency, (declined due to lack of funds),
Petaluma, CA.
2018 KALA Art Institute, Summer Printmaking, Artist-in-
Residence, Berkeley, CA.
CURATION
2024 Gift Giveaway for Yasser, Virtual Raffle Campaign.
Print Sale for Seraj, Virtual Campaign.
2022 Oakland Workers Fund Tote Bag Fundraiser, Virtual
Campaign.
Oakland Workers Fund Hoodie Fundraiser, Virtual
Campaign.
2020 It’s A Moment: A Community Exchange, In
Collaboration with Ryanaustin Dennis and McEvoy
Foundation for the Arts, ProArts Gallery, Oakland, CA.
2019 Bay Area Girls Rock Camp Fundraiser, E.M. Wolfman
Books, Oakland, CA.
Mariposa Collective Gathering, E.M Wolfman Books,
Oakland, CA.
Cartero Esperanza, E.M. Wolfman Books, Oakland, CA.
Supermarket Soapbox Reading, E.M Wolfman Books,
Oakland, CA.
2018 E.M. Wolfman Pop-Up x A Recounting, Guerrero Gallery,
San Francisco, CA.
Call in and Letter Writing for Cyntoia Brown, E.M.
Wolfman Books, Oakland, CA.
First of All... SCC’s 7th Annual Exhibition, Curation for
Students of Color Coalition.
Black Panther Viewing at Jack London Theatre,
Organizing on behalf of Students of Color Coalition,
Oakland, CA.
2017 Open Mic, Organizing of Students of Color Coalition
Open Mic, A2 cafe, Oakland, CA.
Pop-Up Cultural Center, Oakland Spring Craft Fair, co-
curated with Michaela Realiza, Oakland, CA.
Afro-Comic Con Oakland, organizing on behalf of
Students of Color Coalition, Oakland, CA.
2016 Student support for CCA Adjunct Unionization, co
organizing with Jessica Lawless of SEIU, Oakland, CA.
RECLAIM: SCC’s 6th Annual Exhibition, Co-Curation
with Courtney Chung and Nicole Whitner for Students
of Color Coalition. Series of events hosted during this
exhibition as follows: Native Hawaiian Entrance
Ceremony lead by Courtney Chung and Fonda Yoshimoto,
Lecture with Faith Adiele, Organize This! workshop lead
by Jessica Lawless, Jayonce: Reading Beyonce and Jay-
Z’s Charts lead by Jaliessa Sipress, Poetry Reading with
Tongo Eisen Martin, Musical Performance by Zack
Endoso, Adjuncts Unite! event lead by Jessica Lawless,
Know Your Rights Workshop lead by Aaron Gach, History
of CCA Martinez Murals lead by Eduardo Pineda,
Oakland, CA.
Annual Dish Story, Communal potluck and storytelling
event for Students of Color Coalition, Oakland, CA.
Agency Walk Exercise, co-lead with Courtney Chung for
Students of Color Coalition, Oakland, CA.
Cultural Appropriation Open Forum, open forum
discussion open to CCA Community, co-organized with
Courtney Chung, Oakland, CA.
2015 Revision: 5th Annual SCC Exhibition, Co-Curation with
Grace Chen for Students of Color Coalition, Oakland, CA.
Problematic Fave Workshop, Discussion within Students
of Color Coalition, Oakland, CA.
Annual Dish Story, communal potluck and storytelling
event for Students of Color Coalition, Oakland, CA.
GRANTS AND AWARDS
2026 Graduate Scholarship at Crown Point Press, Crown Point
Press, San Francisco, CA.
Scholarship at Anderson Ranch, Anderson Ranch Arts
Center, Snowmass Village, CO.
2025 Disability Futures Grant, in support of Moments
Cooperative, Oakland, CA.
Best of East Bay Summer Camps: The Crucible, East Bay
Express, Oakland, CA.
2024 Best of East Bay Summer Camps: The Crucible, East
Bay Express, Oakland, CA.
People’s Life Fund War-Tax Resistance Grant, in
support of Moments Cooperative, Oakland, CA.
Blue Heart Association, virtual highlight and platform
in support of Moments Cooperative, West Coast
Chapter.
2023 Arts Incentive Grant, in support of McClymonds,
Rudsdale, and Castlemont High School, Oakland, CA.
2022 Mobilize Power Fund with Third Wave Fund, in support
of Oakland Workers Fund, Oakland, CA.
Our Fund with Philanthropy CA, in support of Oakland
Workers Fund, Oakland, CA.
2021 Reflection Fund for Artists Grant, Artists as First
Responders, Oakland, CA.
Horizon Foundation Grant, in support of Moments
Cooperative. Oakland, CA.
Akonadi Foundation Grant, in support of Moments
Cooperative, Oakland, CA.
Townlink Grant with Greenlining Institute, in support
of Oakland Workers Fund, Oakland, CA.
Reoccurring Foundational Support Grant from Bilal
Mahmood, in support of Oakland Workers Fund,
Oakland, CA.
2020 Arts Incentive Grant, in support of McClymonds High
School, Oakland, CA.
Common Field Convening Presenter, part of
a presentation titled Care and Tenderness in
Cooperative Cultural Work, Virtual.
2017 Hamaguchi Print Award, in support of undergraduate
studies at California College of the Arts, Oakland, CA.
2014 AIGA Worldart Studio Grant, in support of
undergraduate studies at California College of the Arts,
Oakland, CA.
PUBLICATIONS
2019 Mi Casita Press. Journal. 6.5 x 8 in. journal with original
design.
E.M. Wolfman Books. Monthly Calendars. Risograph
monthly prints.
2018 E.M. Wolfman Books. E.M Wolfman Quarterly Magazine,
Issue. 1.
Sailor Gonzales. No Rompas Mas, Mi Pobre Corazon. Los
Angeles based zine.
2015 Humble Pie. Humble Pie Volume 11. Publication of CCA
Artists.
Manos Vacias Mirror
11 x 8.5 inches
Hand-Painted Ceramic mirror, resin encased flowers as charms, bejewled outline.
From left to right reads, “Las manos vacias y el corazon lleno de esperanza.”
Alma & Amor Mirror
8 x 8 inches
Handpainted mirror with goauche, resin charm with encased flower petals.
Araña Mirror
9 x 10 inches
Handpainted with acrylic and gouache, resin charms with encased flower petals.
An Insufficient Eulogy
January 2021
Text from left to right, “An Insufficient Eulogy. a story with a clear beginning, no clear end. when one brown soul is the culmination of all before it, life lived in unspoken words and generational experiences. this is for all those who hold their ancestors, loved ones, and distant family close. for all who have had to witness a part of themself die, or kill a part of themself to continue on. i write this in hopes that one day, we may collectively experience the privelege of a peaceful death.”
Bookmark for Bandung Books
June 2021
Risograph, 9 x 2.5 inches
Created for Bandung Books (Eastside Arts Alliance) to embody unity across communities.
it’s been 979 and i am forgetting you (even as i begin this, i am crying deeply)
September 2019
a zine written post almost 3 years of being out of an abusive relationships. 12 pages of risograph prints.
Altar Centerfold
October 2019
Risograph on Creme Cardstock, 8.5 x 11 in.,
Centerfold of a Risograph Zine.
Unhinged
October 2019
Risograph on 8.5 x 11 inch found paper
from left to right reads, “i look into myself and see a deep anger / i have no need to apologize for it / i see her as my tongue unhinged, reclaiming space.”
Rosas
December 2019
Woodcut Relief on Cotton Muslin, 2.5x2.5 ft dyed with Hibiscus Flower
Asking
June 2018
Relief Print on BFK Paper
“How Do I Ask The World To Love Me Properly In Its Chaos”, one linocut print to emerge from the Queer Ancestors Project at SOMArts, San Francisco, CA.
Inside
July 2018
Relief Print on BFK
linocut print from Queer Ancestors Project at SOMArts, San Francisco, CA.
Searching
June 2018
Relief print on BFK
linocut print from Queer Ancestors Project at SOMArts, San Francisco, CA.
anger
2016
letterpress
5 x 4 inches on orange cardstock
dedicated to everyone who extends a helping to appear sincere. to those who give fake comfort only to themselves, we see through you.
El Tamal
2016
etching and aquatint
8 x 11 inches on reeves
My abuelita Lupe Serna’s hands, making tamales for christmas back in 2010. a lineage in maiz.
Abuela’s Kitchen
2016
6 x 10 inches on reeves
other collections from lupe’s dinner table (angel jesus perez calls this my fried chicken print)
Kitchen Space
2016
Etching and aquatint
8 x 11 inches on reeves
missing this table on the corner of Downing St. in Five Points, Denver. My abuela’s house, where food never seemed to run out for me. the little things she would leave out for me.
Concha in the 80’s
2016
etching
8 x 8 inches on reeves
My bisabuela concha posing for a picture.
altar room
october 2019
collaborative altar room with Lukaza Branfmann-Verissimo, Malaya Tuyay, Sequoya Akosua Lee and multiple other guest artists. this altar room is dedicated to our past, present and futures.
quilted letters for my past
october 2019
woodcut relief roses, sewn together to create larger quilt of found, silky fabric. approx 5 ft x 5 ft. framed letters written to my mother, father, abuelito and abuelita with my secret thoughts / things i wish i could fully communicate.
Vestido de mariposas
october 2019
over 600 linocut butterflies on found white silk, silk organza, and various other white fabrics. fits to artist, featured in her video performance “Mariposa.”
collaborative moment
textiles, painting, relief print
october 2019
a collaborative wall space between Lukaza Branfman-Verissimo (painting in upper hand corner), Sequoya Akosua Lee (painting on butterfly print), and Malaya Tuyay (relief-print of body).
Quilt for my Heart
(2018)
20 ft. x 25 ft. on found, patchwork fabric
Reads from left to right: I love my brown body lagrimas dirt alma pain madres kisses my mothers soul the unknown the ones gone too soon all enveloping like dirt water blood my anger is powerful beautiful this is a love letter to you.
Mariposa. Video performance, 2019.
diary entry part i. video experiment, 2016.
first video project interviewing yanira duarte. 2015.
the first song i knew was about me. video experiment, 2017.
first video work with mother and father, UCLA Apartments off of Sepulveda, Age 8
Family Portrait (linework with gold)
11 x 14 in.
Bristol Paper
Family portrait of womxn in my family, gold overlay.
Show Card for Manzanilla
2018
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Family Portrait (full color with gold detail)
10.75 x 14 inches
Bristol Paper
Screenprint of womxn in my family, overlaid with our families origins.
Most recent poster for Students of Color Coalition at CCA
2015
tlatelolco / ayotzinapa
Screeprints on Bristol
15 x 18 inches
(2014)
two violences in parallel with one another
violence enacted on brown, radical minds and bodies
how much farther have we really come when young protestors are still silenced and killed by the same hands?
yanira la virgen
screenprint and monotype
5 x 6 ft.
part of a large scale representation of my family.
Sopa
Monotype on BFK
11 x 13 inches
2017
sopa de letra from the past
possble reasons for swallowing words
Mom’s Cabinet
monotype on BFK
11 x 13 inches
2017
remembering mother’s home in the west side reminiscing on her tools and comparing my empty kitchen blurring parts of her items.
Fragmented
monotype
24 x 28 inches
2016
fragments on memories, puzzle pieces, more stolen photos from dad’s basement photo albums. sometimes i mistake him for my tios and primos but i don’t always know who they are.
Retracing
etchings on BFK and Reeves
9x12 inches
2014
an idea that we may understand the touch of love, reconfiguring and rewiring vision, the thought, of care. how many times and colors and moments will i remember from you?
Within Intimacy
2018
Drawing
“i crave a normalcy within love that i have not touched - to be loved and held and respected for lived experiences. i believe in the accumulation of wishing and wanting throughout generations. my body was never really my own.”
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A letter for the signs
collage and monotype, drawing
2018
A brief letter for all the signs and the significant moments I was able to experience with them.
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Orange Book
4 x 5 inches
2016
a collection of poetry on orange bristol paper, typewritten.
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A space to heal
handmade box with monotype and artist’s items
2017
a box holding family secrets and stories and bits and pieces of what I can remember. filled with letters from dad, copal, pottery from mexico, the bust book, nina simone cd, saturday night fever cassette
agua leche pink
monotype accoridon book
2017
on the first shower i took after getting out of an abusive relationship