Christi Zorrilla Soto [PE]
Live & work in Oregon, USA.Multicultural visual artist and art educator, Christi holds a bachelor's degree in Fine Arts from the School of Fine Arts in Peru and a master's degree in Education. She has worked as a bilingual museum educator at Larco Museum and taught visual arts at various grade levels in private schools and colleges. In 2016, Christi co-founded Correlacion Contemporanea Art Residency and Education Programs. Over the past 7 years, she has been actively involved in providing arts experiences to Amazon communities and developing professional development programs for art students. Christi has an extensive experience in arts admin & non-profit organizations. As an artist, Christi's work focuses on emphasizing the value of ancestors, indigenous arts and cultures, and exploring the delicate process of global migration through minimal sculptures and art installations.
CV - RESUME
EDUCATION
[2021] Master's Degree
Education (M.Ed)
Southern Scientific University - Lima, Peru
[2016] Bachelor's Degree
Fine Arts
School of Fine Arts - Lima, Peru
Education (M.Ed)
Southern Scientific University - Lima, Peru
[2016] Bachelor's Degree
Fine Arts
School of Fine Arts - Lima, Peru
WORK EXPERIENCE
[2021 - Present] Central Oregon Program Manager
Young Audiences - Arts for Learning of Oregon & SW Washington
[2019 - Present (Remote)] Professor of Visual Arts & Fashion Design
Sise College Lima, Peru
● Delivered undergraduate courses in fashion illustration, artistic drawing, color theory, and painting
● Prepared course materials for face-to-face, and remote classes, evaluated and graded students’ classwork and assignments
● Adapted ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and teaching-learning methodologies for different learning styles
● Assisted 40+ students in discovering and expressing their individual and unique artistic styles
● Monitored students' progress in order to present semi-professional art portfolios and proposals for contests and scholarships
[2017 - Present (Remote)] Instructor of Sculpture
Fine Arts Cultural Center Lima, Peru
● Developed art curriculum, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction for a newly opened sculpture course
● Presented and conducted 40+ sculpture lessons to groups of 15 students ranging from 6 to 14 years of age
● Explained and demonstrated sculpture techniques such as modeling, installation, assemblage, ecological, and paper art
● Reported monthly achievements of the class and each student participating in the annual Fine Arts Art Show for two consecutive years
[2016 - Present] Co-Founder of Non-Profit Cultural Organization
Correlacion Contemporanea Art Space, Amazon Rainforest, Peru
● Co-founded cultural organization based in the Peruvian jungle aimed to generate cultural exchange for artists and related workers
● Created and oversaw workshops of textile art, painting, and sculpture for children, youth, and adults in the Amazon Rainforest’s low-income aboriginal villages
● Developed research on Peruvian art and advised artists on projects related to Amazon Rainforest’s culture
● Awarded Independent Cultural Worker Across Cultural Organizations (2020) by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture
[2020] Teacher of Visual Arts
Carlos Lisson Middle School & High School Lima, Peru
● Developed and implemented curriculum and annual lesson plan following K-12 national guidelines for remote education
● Led remote lessons of drawing, painting, sculpture, and digital art for children and teenagers
● Identified learning obstacles and coached students to overcome them by motivating students to tap into their inner creativity
● Adapted ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and teaching methodologies according to national regulations
[2020] Instructor of Drawing and Painting
Fine Arts Cultural Center Lima, Peru
● Created lesson plans to engage students in art projects of color theory, lines and values, still life, portrait, and landscape painting
● Taught and demonstrated various techniques and painting methods utilizing drawing media such as tempera, acrylic, charcoal, color pencil, and graphite to 15+ youth and adult students
● Organized final exhibition to show artworks created by students, exhibition comprised by at least two pieces per student
[2018 - 2021] Founder of Textile Art Association
Khi Art Studio & Store Lima, Peru
● Founded art studio & store dedicated to reevaluating Peruvian pre-Columbian arts such as textiles, ceramics, and iconography
● Developed and facilitated 80+ bilingual textile workshops of ancestral weaving techniques for youth and adults
● Awarded Independent Cultural & Art Worker of the Year (2020) by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture
Young Audiences - Arts for Learning of Oregon & SW Washington
[2019 - Present (Remote)] Professor of Visual Arts & Fashion Design
Sise College Lima, Peru
● Delivered undergraduate courses in fashion illustration, artistic drawing, color theory, and painting
● Prepared course materials for face-to-face, and remote classes, evaluated and graded students’ classwork and assignments
● Adapted ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and teaching-learning methodologies for different learning styles
● Assisted 40+ students in discovering and expressing their individual and unique artistic styles
● Monitored students' progress in order to present semi-professional art portfolios and proposals for contests and scholarships
[2017 - Present (Remote)] Instructor of Sculpture
Fine Arts Cultural Center Lima, Peru
● Developed art curriculum, course content, course materials, and methods of instruction for a newly opened sculpture course
● Presented and conducted 40+ sculpture lessons to groups of 15 students ranging from 6 to 14 years of age
● Explained and demonstrated sculpture techniques such as modeling, installation, assemblage, ecological, and paper art
● Reported monthly achievements of the class and each student participating in the annual Fine Arts Art Show for two consecutive years
[2016 - Present] Co-Founder of Non-Profit Cultural Organization
Correlacion Contemporanea Art Space, Amazon Rainforest, Peru
● Co-founded cultural organization based in the Peruvian jungle aimed to generate cultural exchange for artists and related workers
● Created and oversaw workshops of textile art, painting, and sculpture for children, youth, and adults in the Amazon Rainforest’s low-income aboriginal villages
● Developed research on Peruvian art and advised artists on projects related to Amazon Rainforest’s culture
● Awarded Independent Cultural Worker Across Cultural Organizations (2020) by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture
[2020] Teacher of Visual Arts
Carlos Lisson Middle School & High School Lima, Peru
● Developed and implemented curriculum and annual lesson plan following K-12 national guidelines for remote education
● Led remote lessons of drawing, painting, sculpture, and digital art for children and teenagers
● Identified learning obstacles and coached students to overcome them by motivating students to tap into their inner creativity
● Adapted ICT (Information and Communication Technology) and teaching methodologies according to national regulations
[2020] Instructor of Drawing and Painting
Fine Arts Cultural Center Lima, Peru
● Created lesson plans to engage students in art projects of color theory, lines and values, still life, portrait, and landscape painting
● Taught and demonstrated various techniques and painting methods utilizing drawing media such as tempera, acrylic, charcoal, color pencil, and graphite to 15+ youth and adult students
● Organized final exhibition to show artworks created by students, exhibition comprised by at least two pieces per student
[2018 - 2021] Founder of Textile Art Association
Khi Art Studio & Store Lima, Peru
● Founded art studio & store dedicated to reevaluating Peruvian pre-Columbian arts such as textiles, ceramics, and iconography
● Developed and facilitated 80+ bilingual textile workshops of ancestral weaving techniques for youth and adults
● Awarded Independent Cultural & Art Worker of the Year (2020) by the Peruvian Ministry of Culture
EXHIBITIONS
[2023-2024] The Endless Knot
Scalehouse Gallery | Bend OR
[2019] 土生:回乡 TǓSHĒNG. RETORNOS AL PAÍS DEL CENTRO
Contemporary Art Museum - MAC, Lima, Peru
[2018] Fine Arts: Voice and footprint of the graduates (1918-2018)
ICPNA - Lima, Peru
[2018] TIES Individual exhibition
Mercado de Arte, Lima, Peru
[2017] ON THE RIVER Collective exhibition
Fine Arts Cultural Center, Lima, Peru
[2017] MUESTRA DE MUESTRAS
Collective exhibition of Arts integration
770 Gallery, Lima, Peru
[2014] DEADWALK
Collective exhibition
Latino Community Association, OR, USA
[2013] SCULPTURE: TEACHING METHODOLOGY
Group exhibition
Colegio Real, Lima, Peru
[2013] REFUGIO
Permanent exhibition of Eco-sculpture
La Molina National Agrarian University, Lima, Peru
Scalehouse Gallery | Bend OR
[2019] 土生:回乡 TǓSHĒNG. RETORNOS AL PAÍS DEL CENTRO
Contemporary Art Museum - MAC, Lima, Peru
[2018] Fine Arts: Voice and footprint of the graduates (1918-2018)
ICPNA - Lima, Peru
[2018] TIES Individual exhibition
Mercado de Arte, Lima, Peru
[2017] ON THE RIVER Collective exhibition
Fine Arts Cultural Center, Lima, Peru
[2017] MUESTRA DE MUESTRAS
Collective exhibition of Arts integration
770 Gallery, Lima, Peru
[2014] DEADWALK
Collective exhibition
Latino Community Association, OR, USA
[2013] SCULPTURE: TEACHING METHODOLOGY
Group exhibition
Colegio Real, Lima, Peru
[2013] REFUGIO
Permanent exhibition of Eco-sculpture
La Molina National Agrarian University, Lima, Peru
RESIDENCES
[2016] NOMAD Artist residency
Taichung, Taiwan
Taichung, Taiwan
CONFERENCES / PRESENTATIONS
[2021] IDENTIDAD NACIONAL Y CULTURAL
Universidad Peruano Alemana
[2017] NOT EVERY ARTISTIC PROJECT NEEDS A SPACE
Fine Arts Cultural Center
[2016] WHERE DOES ART GO?
Fine Arts Cultural Center
[2016] EXPERIENCE, TRUTH AND ART
School of Fine Arts of Peru.
[2016] ANCESTRAL KNOTS
Conversation and criticism
FMAA. Taichung, taiwan
Universidad Peruano Alemana
[2017] NOT EVERY ARTISTIC PROJECT NEEDS A SPACE
Fine Arts Cultural Center
[2016] WHERE DOES ART GO?
Fine Arts Cultural Center
[2016] EXPERIENCE, TRUTH AND ART
School of Fine Arts of Peru.
[2016] ANCESTRAL KNOTS
Conversation and criticism
FMAA. Taichung, taiwan
VOLUNTEER WORK
UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEERS (UNV-Peru)
The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) 2015
UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEERS (UNV-Peru)
COP20 / CMP10: Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the CMP the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol of Kyoto (CMP): Fair "Voices for the Climate" 2014. Lima, Peru
The Annual Meetings of the Boards of Governors of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG) 2015
UNITED NATIONS VOLUNTEERS (UNV-Peru)
COP20 / CMP10: Conference of the Parties to the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC) and the CMP the Conference of the Parties serving as the meeting of the Parties to the Protocol of Kyoto (CMP): Fair "Voices for the Climate" 2014. Lima, Peru
MEDIA
[2020] Q&A with a visual artist Christi Zorrilla
National Geographic Traveller (UK) 2 Apr 2020
[2019] Peruvian Artists of Chinese Descent Shed Light on a Long History of Migration
Hyperallergic
[2019] EL ESPACIO SIMBÓLICO COMO EVOCACIÓN DE LA EXPERIENCIA MIGRATORIA
Cubo Abierto II, p. 8-15
[2017] MOVIMIENTOS FRAGMENTADOS
Revista integración, p. 38-41
National Geographic Traveller (UK) 2 Apr 2020
[2019] Peruvian Artists of Chinese Descent Shed Light on a Long History of Migration
Hyperallergic
[2019] EL ESPACIO SIMBÓLICO COMO EVOCACIÓN DE LA EXPERIENCIA MIGRATORIA
Cubo Abierto II, p. 8-15
[2017] MOVIMIENTOS FRAGMENTADOS
Revista integración, p. 38-41
CONTACT
PORTFOLIO
The Endless Knot
"The Endless Knot" exhibit displayed two installation art pieces inspired by traditional knot symbols from Peru and China. These installations narrate the global journey of families, illustrating the enduring connections between our identity, heritage, and loved ones. The threads in Christi's artwork are more than just visual representations of cultural symbols; they are metaphors for the threads of life itself. They connect us to our ancestors, to distant lands, and to the complex interplay of heritage and migration. The Endless Knot exhibit consists of threads and knots of emotions, memories, and shared experiences that extend beyond borders and generations.
Lazos 环
Art installation that uses the same type of rope used in the ships that transported Chinese citizens to Peru during 1850 - 1930. The traditional Chinese art of making knots is taken as a reference, a communication system that attracts prosperity and good fortune. Zorilla created a work that immerses us in inmigration trips and proposes a reflection on the unions and separations that originated these migratory journeys. In a symbolic or physical way, the work represents the return trip so longed for by Chinese citizens, who, since the 19th century, were forced to abandon their homeland, family and culture, and to erase all kinds of cultural traces due to social segregation.
Khipu
Collaborative art project where Christi records information with a native language learned from her grandparents -Khipu, an indigenous recording system from The Incas Empire made in textile that colonizers tried to destroy during the invasion. Nowadays is lost. She taught this language to hundreds of people of all around the world for three years in order to reassess her culture, to give voice to her ancestors. Also, Christi recorded information of every experience and connection with students through this unique language - knots, levels and colors.
Recorridos Fragmentados | Fragmented Ways
Video installation that draws the migratory movement between China and Peru by ocean and air during 1900-2016. The video begins with Christi's great-grandfather's journey from China to Peru on a cargo ship approximately 100 years ago and ends with the artist's journey back to her great-grandfather's land in 2016. She made the return journey that their ancestors could not make.The rejection of ancestral and native cultures devalues the complex process of migratory displacement, loss, adaptation, and how these groups suffered in the past and keep suffering regardless of country or race.
El-la
This Artist's book shows fragments of conversations like poetry looking for the viewer to find the meaning of the story or connect it with her/his/their life and create a new one. The artist's personal email functions as a container of memories and recounts different moments. It is a written portrait of a roundtrip, a memory that we must rething and choose love. These records start in 2014 through 2016.
