about  the  artist

Isa Estrada (they/she), b. 1997, is a queer, mixed-Indigenous artist (San Luis Rey Band of Mission Indians/Luiseño tribal member, Chicane, Scandinavian, and Irish) whose work centers primarily in oil painting but spans across beadwork, sculpture, performance, installation, and more. Moving between California and Minnesota throughout their life has shaped an interest in transition and relationships; exploring how place, history, and identity intersect in the body and material. Isa intuitively layers gestures, textures, and rhythms with emotional weight as exploration. Their practice is rooted in inquiry, creating work that gives space for conversation and connection.

Isa has shown work in numerous shows in Minnesota, Wisconsin and California. They graduated with an Associate’s Degree in American Indian Studies from Saint Paul College in 2020 and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Drawing and Painting from Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 2026. Isa is currently an MFA candidate in the Art program at the University of Michigan as a Rackham Graduate Fellow and will be graduating in 2028.