Artist Biography
Willow Vergara is a Los Angeles-based artist whose work explores the neocultural intersections of her Filipino and Ghanaian heritage. Raised within multiple cultural frameworks, Vergara often experienced the tension of navigating two distinct backgrounds. Rather than seeing this as a limitation, she now embraces it as a generative space for inquiry; one that informs her art and invites dialogue about identity, hybridity, and belonging.
With a foundation in dance and movement, Vergara approaches performance as a language. One that communicates presence, embodiment, and cultural memory. This movement-based awareness informs her sculptural work, where the physicality of making becomes a reflection of identity in motion. Through ceramics and performance, she explores themes of cultural layering, memory, and displacement, offering a nuanced reflection of diasporic life. Her practice challenges fixed narratives and highlights the fluidity and resilience of emerging, intersecting cultural identities.
Currently pursuing her education at Santa Monica College, Vergara is actively developing her voice as both an artist and cultural activist. She has held internships at the Jean Paul Getty Center and the Santa Monica College ceramics studio, and she has presented at the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) about her time working with Matika Wilbur—experiences that have deepened her commitment to community-based art and education. Her work continues to evolve from both the personal and political messages she feels a responsibility to carry forward.
Education
Santa Monica College 3rd year
Major: Fine Arts | Full time student
Internships
Getty Docent Internship
Santa Monica College Ceramics Internship
Aphroditrist is a term created to reflect the dualities within my neocuoltural Ghanian-Filipina identity. “Afro,” phonetically embedded within the title, points to my Ghanaian heritage and the centrality of hair in Black identity, memory, and resistance. The “pH” gestures toward the Philippines, a nation whose very name—derived from King Philip II—speaks to its colonized history and the cultural systems left in its wake.
Los Angeles
Los Angeles holds a profound significance in my life. It's more than just a place of residence; it's a collection of diverse communities, each contributing to the unique personality of the city. Having moved fifteen times within Los Angeles, I experienced firsthand the rich interplay of cultures that define Los Angeles. This constant exposure to different perspectives fostered a profound sense of self-awareness. By witnessing the vibrant diversity of life around me, I learned to embrace and appreciate the multifaceted nature of my own cultural identity. Much like myself, LA is a place that always changing and reinventing itself. Growing up in a city that grows alongside you, has also taught me the importance of cherishing the present moment. This constant dynamism serves as a strong reminder to savor the beauty and ever progressing character of the city, and to embrace the inevitable changes that come with time.
believe the most remarkable aspect of Los Angeles is its resilience and ability to adapt and come together in the face of constant change. This city is in a perpetual state of evolution, with the urban landscape constantly shifting and the population ever-growing. Yet, amidst this dynamism, I've witnessed a remarkable sense of community. Through the challenges and transformations that come with living in such a dynamic environment, I've been consistently reminded of the city's capacity for compassion and support. Los Angeles truly fosters an environment where individuals can build spaces of haven within this ever-evolving city.
Curriculum Vitae Summary
Summer 2022- Summer 2023
Project 562: Changing the Way We See Native America Exhibition, Barrett Art
Gallery Matika Wilbur
Assisted with the show curated by the Santa Monica Barret Gallery with renowned photographer Matika Wilbur and the to install an exhibition featuring work from the 562 federally recognized tribes, initiative to celebrate contemporary Native American identity. The show featured powerful visual narratives from diverse Indigenous communities across the U.S., challenging stereotypes and reframing public perception. I was given the opportunity to participate in artist interviews, crafting thoughtful questions to capture each participant’s voice and perspective. contributed to broader conversations around representation, sovereignty, and cultural visibility.
February 2024-May 2024
Jean Paul Getty Docent Museum Internship
As a docent, I developed and facilitated engaging virtual art history lessons for K–12 students, fostering critical thinking and a deeper appreciation for visual culture. I guided students through art interpretation exercises that encouraged close observation and analytical thinking. Through this experience, I gained practical skills in curriculum development, public speaking, and collaborative teamwork within a professional museum setting, further reinforced by coursework in professionalism and arts education.
February 2024 - June 2024
Ceramics Internship, Santa Monica College
Gained hands-on experience in ceramics studio operations, including kiln loading and unloading, glaze preparation, and daily studio maintenance. I assisted in teaching students fundamental ceramic techniques such as hand-building and wheel throwing, while also reinforcing studio safety protocols and best practices. Additionally, I took initiative to design and implement a new ceramics program for the school, expanding opportunities for student engagement with the medium and enhancing the overall studio curriculum.
January 2024 - May 2025
Contributed to the curation of an exhibition centered on themes of Black identity, unity, and progress in a post-slavery context, highlighting the ongoing impact of historical memory and cultural resilience. I managed communications and coordinated efforts among a diverse team of contributors, working across multiple platforms to maintain consistency and vision. Additionally, I ensured the timely delivery and installation of artworks, supporting a smooth and cohesive exhibition rollout.
Exhibitions
●Tree Home | Show supporting Black artists | Curated by Daijah Williams | Pau Hause Gallery, Los Angeles CA (2024)
●Spring Chickens | Group show consisting of three artists in dialogue | Curated by Kaia Hall | Jefes Art Center, Venice CA (2024)
●Limitless | Pop-up group show | Curated by Bella Val | Good Mother Gallery, Los Angeles CA (2024)
●Command Z | Group show | Curated by Fiona Dowdee | Indivisible Arts, Hermosa Beach CA (2024)
●Gathering Clouds | POC-focused gallery | Mission to Decolonize Art Institutions | E2 ArtGallery, Los Angeles CA (2024)
●Limbs | Curated by Daijah Williams | Pau Hause Gallery, Los Angeles CA (2024)
●Celebrating Playing Resisting | Curated by Logan Wiggins | Play Ground Gallery, Los Angeles CA (2025)
●Here/Now | Curated by Emily Silver and Carlson Hatton | SMC Barret Gallery, Santa Monica CA (2025)
●Woven | Curated by Toni Walker | Safe Space Gallery, Brooklyn NY (2025)
Awards & Honors
●Global Citizenship Symposium | 3rd Place
●Published in First Edition Visionaries Magazine
●Published in SMC Poetry Book
●Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society | Active Member
●Cheeky Magazine | 2025
●Joyage Magazine | 2025
Extracurricular Activities
●SMC Writers Club | Spring 2023
●Black Collegians | Active Member
Professors:
Emily Silver
Rebecca Frantz
Contact
I'm always looking for new and exciting opportunities. Let's connect.
+1 (424) 234 - 3920