Camila Sofia Leiva
camilaleiva.com
@mitadibuja
Minneapolis, MN
EDUCATION
2023 MFA in Interdisciplinary Art and Social Practice, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN (expected May 2023)
2011 Master of Science in Education, Long Island University, Brooklyn, NY
2009 Bachelor of Arts, Swarthmore College, Special Major in Sociology/Anthropology and Education Studies, Minor in Latin American Studies, Swarthmore, PA
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCES
2021-Present Teaching Assistant, Art Department, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN. Courses: Critical Theories and Their Construction from a Studio Perspective (Prof Erin Gleeson), Comics, Zines and Books (Prof Corinne Teed) and Introduction to Contemporary Art and Theory (Prof. Christina Schmid)
2020 Coordinator and facilitator, Transformational Creative Strategies Training, program of the Minneapolis Institute of Art and Hope Community, Inc., Minneapolis, MN
2019 Muralist and facilitator, Power of Vision Mural Project, Franklin Avenue Mural, Minneapolis Institute of Art and Hope Community, Inc., Minneapolis, MN.
2017-20 Political Educator & Trainer, Service Employees International Union (SEIU), Minneapolis, MN
2015-17 Adjunct Instructor, Diego Portales University, Education Department, Santiago, Chile. Course taught: Education in Human Rights and Diversity
2014-17 School Leadership Team and teacher, Confederacion Suiza Public High School, Santiago, Chile
2010-12. Language arts teacher, Pan American International High School, Queens, New York
GRANTS, RESIDENCIES, AND AWARDS
2022 Creative Support for Individuals Grant, Minnesota State Arts Board, Saint Paul, MN
2021 First Step Public Artist Residency Program, The Anderson Center, Red Wing, MN
2020 Early Career Artist Project Grant, Forecast Public Art, Saint Paul, MN
2020 Artist Initiative Grant, Minnesota State Arts Board, Saint Paul, MN
COLLABORATIVE PROJECTS
2021 Project Lead and Muralist, “I embrace your absence” Mural, with Claudia Valentino, Thomasina Topbear, Hibaaq Ibrahim and Joy Spika. Financed by a Forecast Public Art grant received by Claudia Valentino, Lake Street, Minneapolis MN.
2021 Contributing Artist, “Scorched Feet/Pies Quemados” Zine, Rini Keagy, Alexa Horochowski and Meena Mangalvedhekar founded Scorched Feet in the aftermath of the political turmoil and social upheaval of 2016-2020. They invited me to participate in the zine by contributing an image and description of my arpillera in honor of Daunte Wright.
2019-20 Project Lead and Muralist, “Loving yourself is revolutionary” Mural, commissioned by YWCA Transitional Housing Project (THP), Saint Paul, MN, designed with Claudia Valentino and residents of the THP.
EXIBITIONS
2021 Fresh Works, Regis Center West, Minneapolis, MN
2021 Gleaned Fruit, Larson Gallery, St. Paul, MN
2019 Visualiz-Arte Latinx Artist Exhibit. CLUES, St. Paul, MN
2018 Muxeres Magicxs, International Women’s Day Exhibit. Center for Workers United in Struggle (CTUL), Minneapolis, MN
PUBLICATIONS
Theorizing and Enacting Translanguaging for Social Justice, Heteroglossia as Practice and Pedagogy (pp.199-216), January 2014, Authors Ofelia Garcia and Camila Leiva.
LANGUAGES SPOKEN
Fluent in Spanish, mother tongue. Extensive experience as a consecutive and simultaneous English-Spanish interpreter in the non-profit sector.