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 received her Bachelor of Fine Arts with a minor in Art History, becoming a first-generation college graduate in her family.
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, making art became a way to cope with her surroundings and express herself. Her work explores themes of mental health, personal growth, gender norms, and power.
Her recent exhibitions include the “Best of 2024” show at Avanti Art Gallery, where her sculpture Bounded was featured, and the group exhibition “No Theme, Theme Show” at Covert Art Gallery, which included her painting Something About Body Image 3 (February 15, 2025). She is currently preparing her thesis exhibition, Nasty, opening at the Robert and Frances Fullerton Museum of Art in April 2026.
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
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
April 9, 2026, “Nasty” California State University, San Bernardino,
Group Show
February 15, 2025 “No Theam, Theam 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
Figure drawing Model, Mt San Jacinto College 2023-Present
Oak Grove Center, Youth Support Worker/ Class Room TA/ Substitute Teacher 09/2021-Present
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, Transfers 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
