Gina M. Contreras (b. 1985, Fresno, CA) received her B.F.A. from the San Francisco Art Institute, USA, and her A.A. from Fresno City College, Fresno, CA. She incorporates drawing and painting to examine the complexity of traditional and cultural standards, using self-portraits to embrace the narrative between her conventional Chicana upbringing and her admiration for modern lowbrow culture of self-awareness and body acceptance. She currently lives and works in San Francisco, CA.
Gina’s recent solo exhibitions include Hashimoto Contemporary, San Francisco, CA, and Chefas Projects, Portland, OR. She has been featured in group exhibitions at institutions such as ICA San Jose Benefit Art Auction, San Jose, CA; Hashimoto Contemporary, New York, NY; Chefas Projects, Portland, OR; Arion Press, San Francisco, CA; SFAI Fort Mason Center, San Francisco, CA, among others.
Her works are held in the permanent collections of public institutions, including the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento, CA; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art Library, San Francisco, CA; and the Ann Bremer Memorial Library, San Francisco, CA.
Gina has received several grants and awards, including the John S. Knudsen Prize from the Crocker Art Museum (2022), the Svane Foundation Grant (2020), and the Schmidt Community Arts Fellowship from the San Francisco Art Institute (2008), among others.