Artist Statement
Cristina Montesinos is a third-generation Latin American artist living and working in Atlanta. Now a full-time painter, curator, and arts advocate, she spent the first 25 years of her career as a designer and creative director, collaborating with clients ranging from startups to Fortune 500 companies.
Born and raised in Costa Rica into a large Ecuadorian family of artists, Cristina draws from a rich legacy of creative expression and visual storytelling. She holds a BFA in Visual Communications with a minor in Art History from Jacksonville University, where she deepened her understanding of both classical and contemporary art.
Cristina’s work is deeply inspired by her connection to nature, shaped by a childhood spent almost entirely outdoors. Her paintings explore the mystery and healing energy of the natural world, using a quiet, intuitive style rooted in mindfulness. Some of her series also reflect on the emotional and spiritual complexities of contemporary life.
She is equally committed to community engagement. Cristina regularly speaks at schools and galleries—including talks centered on her Latin American heritage and immigrant experience—and has curated and organized community exhibitions, including the Placita Latina, Latinx Community Exhibition with the Decatur Arts Alliance (2022, 2023). In spring 2024, she juried a regional high school art show and served as both MC and keynote speaker for the awards ceremony.
In 2020-2021, her work was selected for a major juried outdoor exhibition and featured on hundreds of billboards across Atlanta. The billboard vinyl was later upcycled into couture for a fashion show and displayed in the front window of Neiman Marcus.
Cristina continues to exhibit work in group shows and arts festivals around Atlanta and has also shown her work internationally.