Artist Statement
My work is process-oriented, driven by repurposed material, interactivity, and collage. I use chance, allowing the image or sculpture to reveal itself. I begin my sculptures with no plan in mind. I start by assembling discarded found objects, smashing them together until something emerges for me. Repurposing material is an important part of my art-making. I enjoy the history and energy that a material has gained from being loved, used, and then lost or tossed away. I’m interested in finding calm in the chaos. Making work gives me an outlet to expend my energy when I am spinning on an issue. I want to create a space where we can discuss controversial topics. My works exist in a continuous state of transfiguration, working and reworking things. I see this as a visual way to work things out in my head. I am always looking to understand, question, and analyze social expectations and conditions.
I work quickly, sometimes breaking the sculpture apart and then rebuilding it. I work with materials such as used synthetic hair, human hair, old paint, nails, screws, razor blades, paper, magazines, photos, wire, resin, found furniture, paper clay, handmade paper sheets, screen prints, wood, and ink. I create layers with different materials I find beautiful, and through that process, I find a sense of calm. I look for something in the work that I can focus on and ground myself with. There is a balance between chaos, controlled experiment, and organization. This tension reflects the human experience and gives me an outlet.
I am allowing myself to feel to find power and acceptance in my history and in the history of others. I refuse to be the victim. I refuse to abide by forced expectations, to be afraid of pain, embarrassment, or abuse. I am allowing myself and, hopefully, others through my artwork to feel rage and to ask questions and demand change.
Biography
Mya Correa grew up in the Inland Empire and graduated from Alvord Continuation High School. After starting a family and raising three children, she returned to school and graduated with honors from Mt. San Jacinto College, earning five Associate of Arts degrees in Humanities, Arts, Liberal Arts, Art History, and Studio Arts. She then transferred to the University of California, Riverside, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a minor in Art History, becoming the first in her family to graduate from college. In 2023, Correa began her Master of Fine Arts at California State University, San Bernardino, and is expected to graduate in May 2026.
Correa has been creating art her entire life. As a child, she used art to express herself and cope with her surroundings. Her work explores themes of mental health, personal growth, gender norms, and power.
Correa has worked with children at Oak Grove, a mental health group home. She has created and run art classes to help support children with a history of trauma. Correa has also worked as a substitute teacher, volunteered at elementary schools making pinch pots, and worked one-on-one with children on the spectrum, completing ABA training. She finds purpose in using art to help people of all ages heal from past trauma.
CV
EXHIBITIONS
Online
February 24, 2025 “Best of 2024” (online) Avanti Art Gallery, (Sculpture) Bounded
January, 2025 “Waste to Create 4” (Online) Exposed, Just a thought 1-5, Studio Floor 1, Studio Floor 2
August, 2021 “Textures, Patterns, Shapes, or Forms” (online), (paint) “Something About Body Image 1
Solo Show
April 9, 2026, “Nasty” California State University, San Bernardino
June 12, 2020, “Drive by Art” (Covid) Pain Sugar Gallery, Intestine
August 1, 2018-2019 “Something about my mother” Mt San Jacinto College, foundation 1-3
Group Show
September 12, 2026 “ To See Through” Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art
August 8, 2026, “ Cigarettes and Unprocessed Trauma,” Little Coyote Gallery
June 6, 2026, “10th Annual Alpay Scholarship Exhibition,” Palos Verdes Art Center
June 4, 2026, “Proof Pressure Print” Division 9 Exhibition
May 9, 2026, “A” Artists Alley Show
April 11, 2026, “A” Artists Alley Show
February 15, 2025, “No Theme, Theme Show” Covert Art Gallery, (Paint) Something About Body Image 3
January 23, 2025, “Visual Language MFA Second Year Show”
January 7, 2024, “Home, Grown” Covert Art Gallery, (Painting) Something About Body Image 1
July 17, 2021, “High Beams”, Shoe Box Projects Torrance Art Museum, Substance 1-5
June 5, 2020, “The Next Wave” UCR Undergraduate Show, Substance 1-5
January 22, 2019, “Life Meets Art” Mt San Jacinto Gallery, (sculptor) Mother
April 30, 2018, “Hear And Now” Student Art Show at Mt San Jacinto, (paint) 3 Generations
April 24, 2017, Mt San Jacinto annual student art show, Skull
April 18, 2016, Mt San Jacinto annual student art show, Heart, The Story Of, Vincent Van Gogh book
Performance Art
March 4, 2019 “Guerrilla Gowns Performance” Art Space Gallery, Fresno City College
January 17, 2019 “Guerrilla Gowns Performance” Mt San Jacinto Gallery
Recycled Art and Fashion Show
May 8, 2020, “Recycled Art and Fashion Show” Online, Perfect Blue
May 12, 2018, “Recycled Art and Fashion Show” Monte De Oro Winery and Vineyard, Perfect Blue
February 6, 2016, “Mt San Jacinto Gala Fashion Show”, Oil Spill (dress), and (painting) Im Sorry
EMPLOYMENT
Professor of Art, Mt. San Jacinto College 2026-Present
Figure drawing Model, Mt San Jacinto College 2023-2026
Oak Grove Center, Youth Support Worker/ Class Room TA/ Substitute Teacher 09/2021-2026
Professor of Art, California State University, San Bernardino 06/2025-12/2025
Substitute Teacher at Menifee Union School District 11/ 2021-2025
Art Lab Technician, University of California, Riverside, CA - 07/2019-05/2020
First-Year Student Experience, FYE Mentor - 11/2018- 05/2019
Artist’s Assistant, June 1, 2016 – 07/ 1, 2016
Behavioral Therapist, Comprehensive Autism Center - Temecula, CA - 2016-04 – 2016-11
VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE
Mentor Collective, Mentor 05/2020-2021
Art Lab Technician, University of California, Riverside, 07/2019-05/2020
CHASS Transfer First, Mentor 05/2018- 05/2019
First-Year Student Experience, 11/ 1, 2018- 05/2019
Honors Mentor, Honors Mentor Program, 2018-2019
Volunteer muralist, Perris Train Museum, January 24, 2016 – 2020
Volunteer art teacher, Triple Crown Elementary School, 11/ 18, 2016-2019
Art festival at Mt San Jacinto, 03/ 30 – 31, 2019
Mt San Jacinto College gallery volunteer 08/ 1, 2015-2019
Art/Poetry/ Ceramics club inter-club council representative 08/ 1, 2015-2019
Arts Festival Mt San Jacinto College 11/ 4, 2018
Honor Enrichment Mentor 08/ 1, 2018 – 2019
monster drawing rally 10/ 7, 2017
volunteer, assistant crane operator, bronze pour 05/ 25, 2017
Pet Rescue Center 01/ 1, 2012 - 07/2015
PUBLICATIONS
Dotphotozine issue 14, Cynthia and butterfly, and Cynthia 08/ 2025
Novum Artis Issue 005, Both BLEEDING and intestine 10/15, 2024
Textures, Patterns, Shapes or Forms, Something About Body Image 08/5th-28, 2021
Shoe Box Projects, Substance, July 17th, 2021
Mosaic Art Journal, Foundation, June 13th, 2020
The Next Wave, Substance, June 5th 2020
Off The Wall, Family Portrait, October 23, 2019
History of Art newsletter, photograph reenactment of Manet’s Olympia, October 16, 2020
The Palouse Review, photograph Cynthia, May 1, 2019
Flight Magazine, Three Generations, April 29, 2019
The Talon newspaper, Guerrilla Gowns April 21, 2019,
The Talon newspaper, Mother, April 21, 2019
Art and Cake website, In The Artist’s Studio – a photo essay, part 4, January 21, 2019
The Palouse Review, The Story of, and Perfect Blue December 1, 2018
Flight magazine publication, photograph Cynthia, May 1, 2016
EDUCATION
California State University, San Bernardino, Master of Fine Arts, May 2026
University of California, Riverside, Bachelor of Fine Arts, May 2021
Mt San Jacinto College, AA Humanities, AA Arts, AA Liberal Arts, AA Studio Arts, AA Art History
May 2019
INSTITUTIONAL ACQUISITION
Mt San Jacinto College Presidential Recognition of Excellence, Perchious of Three Generations
SCHOLARSHIP/ AWARDS
Assistance League of Hemacinto Scholarship
PEO Chapter VC Scholarship
The Bernard Osher Scholarship
Cardenas Markets Inc. Scholarship
Molly Adams Scholarship
Honors Enrichment Scholarship
Mt. San Jacinto Honors Enrichment Program Scholarship
Certificate of Excellence
Mt. San Jacinto Honors Enrichment Program for service as an honors mentor
Certificate of Congressional Recognition, January 2016
Certificate of Congressional Recognition, January 2018
Certificate of Congressional Recognition, April 2018
Mt. San Jacinto College Presidential Recognition of Excellence Scholarship
Cesar Chavez Art Contest First Place
The Balfour Beatty Gala Sponsor’s Scholarship
Triple Crown Elementary Volunteer Award
Martin Luther King, Jr. Art Contest 2016
Martin Luther King, Jr. Art Contest 2018
Recycled Art & Fashion Show 2016 Makes a Statement Award
The Art of Sustainability Scholarship
University of Riverside, California, Marius De Brabant Fund
Regents Transfer Scholarship
Heinrich Re-Entry Scholarship
Employee of the Week from Oak Grove Center
Employee of the Month from Oak Grove Center
Meeting the Moment Award, February, Oak Grove Center 2025
Student Veterans Success Sch. 2025
Maloof Art Scholarship 2025
Arlene Roberts Scholarship 2025
HONORS SOCIETY
University of Riverside, California, First-year student mentor
The University of Riverside, California, Capstone Honors Research Program
University of Riverside, California, Transfer First Completer and Mentor
Mt. San Jacinto College Honors Enrichment Program Completer
Mt San Jacinto College President's Honors Roll
College Of The Desert Dean's List
Graduated Summa Cum Laude
