BIO

Samantha Saldaña is an interdisciplinary artist whose work merges photography and fabric sculpture to confront the complexities of culture, identity, gender, relationships, and behavior. Drawing from her experiences with housing insecurity and poverty, and her journey as a first-generation Mexican American, Saldaña’s art speaks to the unseen narratives of struggle and resilience. Her Comfort Quilts reimagine everyday domestic objects as powerful symbols, revealing their hidden significance through the eyes of those who experience housing instability. Inspired by artists like Tanya Aguiñiga, art as mutual aid is a concept that drives Saldaña’s social practice in which she explores the transformative power of public art and arts accessibility. With projects like Bilingual Wayfinding, an interactive map screenprinted for Big Basin State Park, Saldaña blends social advocacy with art making, demonstrating how creativity can bridge gaps, celebrate language, and open spaces of belonging. Her photography further explores identity and behavior, creating vibrant and dynamic portraits that reflect the complexities of selfhood. Saldaña holds a BA in Visual & Public Art from Cal State Monterey Bay and is currently a candidate for an MFA in Photography at San Jose State University where she teaches Beginning Photography. She currently resides in Salinas, California.