Hi! I am Sasha Reisin, originally from Argentina. I have drawn ever since I have memory, which led me to street art in 2012. During this time, I focused on painting hyper-realistic portraits of indigenous tribes that strongly gazed back at viewers. I was eager to produce a cultural shock as a window to other parts of the world.
In 2017 we started an art collective called MUTA, hosting a cultural house that was planned for demolition, which allowed us to experiment freely in the space. For almost two years, we organized workshops, art events, and architectural interventions. We forged a creative community of artists, urbanists, architects, and educators. Later, I spent four years traveling across Latin America, working in multidisciplinary teams to organize placemaking projects and participatory murals, dedicating myself to building community.
Currently, I spend my time making localized public art projects, where I thrive to empower people through art. I do a lot of community outreach so people can gather, share and recognize their own identities. My goal is to produce striking, public artworks that truly represent people and help them feel proud of their places.
Artist Statement
My approach deals with collective memories, historic landmarks, and local identities of places and people. For the last ten years, I have organized public art and community-based projects across Argentina, Ecuador, Panama, Colombia, and Mexico. I share specific public art techniques that encourage family participation and promote creative skills that can spark new interests and future professional careers.
I focus on translating the ethnic and cultural histories of the places I work into striking and meaningful site-specific artworks that strongly engage the public and tell a story about their surroundings. I achieve this by identifying and incorporating popular symbols that have significance for the identity of the place.
My mission is to connect with people’s backgrounds, support marginalized groups, and improve public spaces, all in service of communities feeling proud and developing a sense of belonging with their environment. Moreover, my overarching goal is to reduce the existing gap of social inequity by amplifying the voices of minority populations and encouraging the participation of people who have historically lacked opportunities to express themselves. I hope that viewers will enjoy the artworks, while also noticing the community involvement in the decision-making process.
CV
Education
2017-18 ― Painting studies with Diego Cirulli. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2015-16 ― Painting studies with Alejandro Sordí. Buenos Aires, Argentina.
2016 ― Graduated with a degree in Electronic Arts from the National University of Tres de Febrero (UNTREF), Buenos Aires, Argentina.
Residencies and speaking
2020 ― Residency ʻEstudio Abiertoʼ. Oaxaca, Mexico.
2019 ― Panel discussion ʻCommunity art and gentrificationʼ at FEA ‒ Festival de Ediciones Autográficas. Ibarra, Ecuador.
Curatorial work
2017-18 ― Mural festival FINITO. Buenos Aires. Two events.
2017-18 ― Art festival MANGO. Buenos Aires. Instagram @mangoferia. Five events.
2017-18 ― Organizer of workshops, events and festivals in MUTA cultural house. Buenos Aires. Instagram @experienciamuta
2016-17 ― Workshop ʻIntroduction to Muralismʼ at Croma Latino – Encuentro Latinoamericano de Diseño. Universidad de Palermo, Buenos Aires. Two events.
Community-based projects
2022-23 — Selected in the cultural patronage program of the Buenos Aires City Government, with the project ‘Identity and Migration. Participatory Muralism in Ciudad Oculta (Villa 15)’. Link: https://bit.ly/3gXUEGN
2022-23 — Mural training for emerging artists of marginal neighborhoods/slums, based on local neighborhoods symbols. Commissioned by Fundacion Santander bank.
2022 — Community-based mural based on a local prehispanic tradition, in a social housing building. Mexico City, Mexico. Commissioned by PROSOC – Social Justice Department of Mexico City.
2021 — Murals for transportation gateways in collaboration with Eva Bracamontes, for the Secretary of Public Works of Mexico City government.
2020 — ‘Enlace Defensa’, participatory urbanism project in San Telmo, Buenos Aires, making the design and painting of large scale murals in the highway ceiling and the ground of the whole block. Supported by IDB and Buenos Aires City Government. Video: https://youtu.be/hCbiFZ1UWes
2020 — Selected in the best 100 ideas with the project ‘Estacion Cultivo’, a community urban farm, proposed for the ideathon ‘Return to the streets’ by IDB Cities Lab, Ciudades Comunes and Placemaking Latinoamérica. Link: https://volveralacalle.com/idea/279
2019 — Community mural based on local Zapotec mythology. With Colectivo MUTA and A.C. Una Mano Para Oaxaca. Asunción Ixtaltepec, Oaxaca, Mexico. Video: https://youtu.be/ZaiPewDHWuc
2019 — Participative design, community management and participatory urbanism in Santa Ana, Panama City, to create a trash-free safe route between 3 strategic public spaces. With Colectivo MUTA and Conservatorio SA. Video: https://youtu.be/g-kN9Qrgd5A
2019 — Collective improvement of a rural school in Ayampe, Ecuador, being expanded and transformed into a Montessori method. With Colectivo MUTA.
2019 — Participatory urbanism and large-scale artistic interventions to create a safe tourism route with local artisans and neighbors. Project made with Colectivo MUTA and Experiencias Urbanas in Toctiuco, Quito, Ecuador. Video: https://youtu.be/sDJwA0eDv-g
2019 — Community mural in Barrio Villa 31, led by a local gastronomy collective for the organization of a recurring food exhibition. Supported by the Buenos Aires City Government.
2018 — Mural painting on a 60 ft tall water tank pillar, based on local flora and fauna of the Patagonian desert. Commissioned by the Las Heras Government.
2017 — Mural workshops in Ciudad Oculta (Villa 15). Supported by the Buenos Aires City Government. Video: https://vimeo.com/763448956
Festivals
2022 ― Tirana Mural Fest. Tirana, Albania.
2020 ― ‘Huellas Tilcajete’. San Martín Tilcajete, Oaxaca, Mexico.
2020 ― ‘GAM – graffiti arte mural’. San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.
2020 ― ‘Artivismo Mx’, art week in Mexico. Huerto Roma Verde, Mexico City.
2020-19 ― ‘Zaanarte’. Zaachila, Oaxaca, Mexico. Two events.
2019 ― ‘.mov call 4a’. Panama City, Panama.
2019 ― ‘Solcrijam’, Panama City, Panama.
2019 ― ‘Panama Mural Fest’, Panama City, Panama.
2019 ― NUMU (Nuevo Mural). Ibarra – Ecuador.
2019 ― Festival Toctiuco, organized by Colectivo MUTA. Quito, Ecuador.
2018-17 ― ‘MAAANSO ‒ Encuentro Internacional de Muralistas y Graffiteros’. San Juan, Argentina.
2017 ― ‘Traer la Naturaleza a Buenos Aires’. Argentina.
2016 ― ‘Open House Buenos Aires’, Hospital Pirovano.
2016 ― ‘Meeting of Styles ‒ Argentina’, San Isidro, Buenos Aires.
2016 ― Live painting at ‘FELA’ afrobeat festival. Buenos Aires.
2015 ―‘Segundo Encuentro Latinoamericano de Arte Urbano de Luján’. Buenos Aires.
2015 ― ‘Museo y Ritmo al Aire Libre’. Atalaya, Buenos Aires.
2015 ― 1st prize of the street art contest in Escuela Da Vinci, resulting in a mural in the facade of the building. Buenos Aires.
2014 ― ‘Festival Concreto’. City Bell, Buenos Aires.
2013 ― ‘Late Unsa’. Club Central Norte, Salta, Argentina.
2012 ― ‘Haciendo Zigzag, 1er Encuentro Latinoamericano de Graffiti’ in La Plata, Buenos Aires.
Group Exhibitions
2020 ― ‘Feria de la Acción’ at Ex fábrica de harina, Mexico City.
2019 ― ‘Desde las calles’ at Centro Cultural Internacional, Panama City.
2017 ― ‘Pintura Pública’ at Centro Cultural ‘El Quetzal’, Buenos Aires.
2017 ― ‘Zenti2 ‒ Exposición de artistas urbanos’ at Espacio Animal, Buenos Aires.
2016 ― ‘Roots/Raíces’ at Gallery 788, curated by Buenos Aires Street Art and Section1 Project. Baltimore, US.
2016 ― ‘Muralismo’ at Espacio Cabrera, Universidad de Palermo. Buenos Aires.
2015 ― ‘Street Art’ at Espacio Cabrera, Universidad de Palermo. Buenos Aires.
2012 ― Inclusion in the ‘Street Art Project’ of Google Cultural Institute.