Sarah Biscarra-Dilley facts for kids

Sarah Biscarra-Dilley (born 1986) is a Native American artist, curator, and writer. She is a member of the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe. Her art often explores themes of identity, culture, and how communities stay strong. She focuses on the strength and independence of Indigenous people. She does this by working with different communities, especially in California.

Biscarra-Dilley is also known for her artwork as part of the group called Black Salt Collective.

Early Life and Education

Sarah Biscarra-Dilley was born in 1986 in the Central Valley of California. She is part of the yak titʸu titʸu yak tiłhini Northern Chumash Tribe. She grew up in the Oakland area.

Even though she left high school early, Sarah went on to study art. She attended the Institute of American Indian Arts (IAIA). In 2015, she earned a bachelor's degree in Urban Studies from the San Francisco Art Institute. Later, in 2018, she received a master's degree in Native American Studies from University of California, Davis. She is currently working on her PhD there.

What Sarah Biscarra-Dilley Does

Sarah Biscarra-Dilley is part of the LGBTQ+ community. This connection inspires much of her work. She was raised by supportive family networks, including her chosen family from the LGBTQ+ community. She believes this upbringing helped her develop many of her skills. Her involvement in projects like the "Emnowaangosjig – Coming Out: The Shifting and Multiple Self" exhibit shows her dedication. She has also participated in the National Queer Arts Festival for many years.

In 2015, Biscarra-Dilley worked as an intern for "The Red Women Rising Project." This project helps Native American people in cities who have experienced domestic violence. It raises awareness and connects health organizations with support groups and traditional healers.

Since 2016, Sarah has been writing a book about her Chumash heritage. She hopes to share all parts of her history to help with healing. She has taught herself two dialects of the Chumash language. She continues to learn and connect with her Indigenous community through language studies.

Sarah Biscarra-Dilley uses many different materials in her art. These include cut paper, old documents, fabric, thread, and natural items. She also uses language in her artwork.

She curates her own art and works with other artists on curatorial projects. Sarah has been an artist-in-residence at several places. These include the Art Writer's Tiny Residency in Portland, Oregon, and the Banff Centre for Arts in Canada. She has also received many awards and grants for her work. These include the Alternative Exposure grant (2013) and the Art Matters Foundation grant (2016–2017).

In 2018, the Institute of Modern Art in Brisbane invited Sarah Biscarra-Dilley to help create a series of exhibitions. She worked with other Indigenous curators on a project called The Commute.

The Facebook, Inc. headquarters in Menlo Park, California, features a mural by Sarah Biscarra-Dilley. She created this mural with the Black Salt Collective.

Art Exhibitions

Sarah Biscarra-Dilley has created many art pieces using different materials. She has also been part of many art shows and written for various publications.

• 2018: tʸiptukɨłhɨwatʸiptutʸɨʔnɨ, a video collage. This was part of The Ethical Etherealness of ... and Love exhibit in Montreal, Canada.
• 2016: sup, sup, sup, sup (land, ground, year, dirt). This piece was part of the Visions into Infinite Archives exhibit. The Black Salt Collective curated this show in San Francisco, California.
• 2016: CHRONOTOPIA: The Past, Present and Future of Queer Histories, an exhibit in San Francisco, California.
• 2010: Ramona, a mixed media piece from 2007. This was also shown at the CHRONOTOPIA exhibit in San Francisco, California.