Sierra Aguilar

Sierra Aguilar is a collage artist based in San Diego, CA. She has exhibited collage and mixed media artwork as Stardust Coyote since 2012. Through her collage work, she questions what identity means in the 21st century. She examines themes of consumer culture, how we craft digital identities online, our relationship to social media, and gender identity and expression. Her collage style continually evolves, combining new techniques and technology with traditional analog methods.

Sierra is also an art educator and teaching artist working with youth throughout San Diego county. She believes that art education is fundamental and all students should have access to quality visual art lessons.

In 2021 Sierra became a certified SoulCollage® facilitator and gives workshops in person and online.

Education:

  • SoulCollage® Facilitator Certification, World of SoulCollage®, completed in 2022

  • San Diego State University - School of Teacher Education, Single Subject Credential in Art, completed 2019.

  • Academy of Art University - BFA in Art Education, completed in 2018

    • President's Honor Roll 

    • Valedictorian Candidate

  • San Diego City College - AA in Visual Art, completed in 2013

    • Graduated with honors

Work History:

  • Stardust Experiment SoulCollage®, December 2022 - present

    • Workshop Facilitator throughout San Diego, CA, and online.

  • ArtReach, April 2019 - present

    • Lead Teaching Artist & Curriculum Development, June 2022-present, developing ArtReach core curriculum, supporting Teaching Artist training and development, and admin support.

    • Resident Teaching Artist, July 2021-June 2022, specializing in K-8 Visual Arts education in Title I schools.

      • Residencies:

        • St. Rita’s School, Manitou Grant Implementation, August 2021-present

        • Webster Elementary, STEAM integration, April 2022-present

        • Richland Elementary, SEL Integration, January 2022-present

        • Chollas-Mead Elementary School, DEEP Summer Program, June 2022-July 2022

        • Knob Hill Elementary School, SEL Integration, March 2022-May 2022

        • Discovery Elementary School, SEL Integration, January 2022-May 2022

        • San Elijo Elementary School, SEL Integration, October 2021-January 2022

        • Paloma Elementary Summer SOAR Program, July 2021

        • Discovery Elementary School, grades K-5th, January 2021-May 2021

  • Revision, March 2020 - June 2021

    • Creative Mentor, specializing in empowering adults with developmental disabilities through the creative arts

  • Madewell, November 2013 - June 2021

    • Stylist, 2018-2021

    • Temp Keyholder, Holiday 2020

    • Assistant Store Manager, HR, and Training, 2015-2018

    • Assistant Manager, Operations, HR and Training, 2013-2015

  • Carlsbad Unified High School District, August 2019 - June 2020

    • Teacher, Sage Creek High School, Art, and Multimedia Journalism

  • Sweetwater Union High School District, August 2018 - August 2019

    • Long-Term Substitute, Bonita Vista High School, Photography and Computer Art

    • Student Teacher, Otay Ranch High School, Visual Art - Beginning

Professional Development:

  • 2022 CAEA 2022 Southern Region Conference, conference focused on art education practices, pedagogy, and curriculum development in Long Beach, CA, California Art Educators Association, November 11-12, 2022.

  • 2020 CTA Equity and Human Rights Conference, conference focused on promoting equity in education from varying perspectives including the classroom teacher and political activism in Irvine, CA, California Teachers Association, February 29 - March 1, 2020.

  • Equity Conference 2020, conference focused on promoting equitable education for all and positive diverse environments in schools in San Diego, CA, San Diego Office of Education, January 16-17, 2020

  • 2019 CTA New Educator Weekend South, conference focused on new educators and supportive strategies for ELLS, special populations, classroom management, and engagement in San Diego, CA, California Teachers Association, December 6-8, 2019

  • Arts Empower: MEGA Arts Conference, VAPA focused conference in San Diego, CA, San Diego Office of Education, October 17, 2019

  • Summer 2019 Art Ed Now Conference, an online professional development conference for art teachers, The Art of Education, https://theartofeducation.edu/, July 7, 2019

  • Developing a Restorative & Trauma Informed Practice for Teaching Artists, workshop, Arts for Learning San Diego, May 4 & 25, 2019

  • Winter 2019 Art Ed Now Conference, an online professional development conference for art teachers, The Art of Education, https://theartofeducation.edu/, February 2, 2019

Art Shows and Exhibitions:

2021

  • Cowgirl Angel Night - Group show featuring artists from San Diego, San Diego, CA, July 2021

2020

  • Smile Like You Mean It… - Group show featuring artists from the greater San Diego area, Temecula, CA, November 2020

  • RECONNECT - Group exhibition featuring works on paper by local, national, and international artists, Visual Gallery, San Diego, CA, June 2020

2019

  • Friducha - A Frida Kahlo Inspired Art Show - Group exhibition with artists exhibiting work inspired by artist Frida Kahlo, La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, July 2019

  • La Bodega Gallery 5th Anniversary Show - Group exhibition at La Bodega Gallery in San Diego. All art was created and exhibited on skateboards. La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, January 2019

2018

  • 3rd Annual Sketchparty Art Show - Group exhibition of hundreds of local artists from the biweekly SketchpartySD events. Proceeds from the show were donated to buy more supplies to support the SketchpartySD community. La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, December 2018

  • Mermaid Art Show - Group art show exhibiting mermaid-themed art by over 100 artists from across the world. Second year in a row participating. La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, November 2018

  • Community Service - Group exhibition with over 25 other artists from San Diego and around the world. Visual, San Diego, CA, June 2018

  • PORTALS - Solo exhibition. Dark Horse Coffee Roasters, San Diego, CA, June 2018

  • VENUS - Group exhibition of over 300 female and female-identifying artists at La Bodega Gallery in San Diego. La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, March, 2018

  • La Bodega Gallery 4th Anniversary Show - Group exhibition at La Bodega Gallery in San Diego. All art was created and exhibited on vinyl records. La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, January 2018

2017

  • MICROCOSM - Group exhibition featuring work from nine San Diego artists, at Visual. All works are under 6"x6" in scale. Visual, San Diego, CA, December 2017

  • Boss Habits - Group exhibition featuring work from six different women artists, at Bang Bang, San Diego. Bang Bang, San Diego, CA, November 2017

  • SketchpartySD 2nd Annual Art Show - Group exhibition of hundreds of local artists from the biweekly SketchpartySD events. Proceeds from the show were donated to buy more supplies to support the SketchpartySD community. La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, November 2017

  • Tell Me Something I Don't Know - Solo exhibition featuring 17 new collage and mixed media pieces ranging from 5"x7" to 19"x28". Visual, San Diego, CA, November 2017

  • Mermaid Art Show - Group art show exhibiting mermaid-themed art by over 100 artists from across the world. La Bodega Gallery, San Diego, CA, November 2017

  • Mausoleum Art Market - Group art market exhibiting original art, paintings, and products by seven local artists as well as a gallery show exhibiting the original work of over 25 artists. Just Another Gallery, San Diego, CA, October 2017

  • Visual: The Group Exhibition - Group art show exhibiting work of over 20 local artists using various media. Bar BASIC, San Diego, CA, October 2017

  • Ladies First! - Group art show exhibiting paintings, photography, and mixed media work by all female artists. El Camino, San Diego, CA, September 2017

  • No One Is Listening - Solo show exhibiting 8 works in the "No One Is Listening" series. La Loupe Vintage, San Diego, CA, February 2017