2019Master of Fine Arts in Studio Art, University of California Santa Barbara, CA
2010Bachelor of Fine Arts in Photography and Media, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
SOLO/ TWO-PERSON EXHIBITIONS
2021
A Top in a Bottom’s Skin (with Dakota Noot), Coaxialarts, Online Stream
Forbidden Photos of a Doctor Above Suspicion for Window Dressing, Cerritos College Art Gallery, Norwalk, CA
2019
Fresh Donor, Glassbox Gallery, UC Santa Barbara, CA
2018
At Dawn, They Feast(with Dakota Noot), Glassbox Gallery, UC Santa Barbara, CA
2014
You Found Me: Photographs by Christopher Anthony Velasco, UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, Los Angeles, CA.
2010
Any Color You Like, D301 Gallery, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA. BFA Thesis Exhibition.
This Project Has Been Supported by a Grant from Excel Energy, A402 Gallery, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA.
GROUP EXHIBITIONS/PERFORMANCES
2025
What’s My Thesis,Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion, Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA
The Print Center 99th Annual International Competition, Online Exhibition
2024
Original Sources, Orange County Center for Contemporary Art, Santa Ana, CA
An Artist Walks into a Bar… (The Art of Comedy), 643 Project Space, Ventura, CA
“Ventura College Art Faculty Exhibition,” New Media Gallery, Ventura, CA
El Cuerpo: The (Performing) Body and the Photographic Stage, Curated by Christina Fernandez, Gallery Luisotti, Los Angeles, CA
Go Figure-Now!, ArtBug Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Hollywood Land: A Salute to the 100th Anniversary of the Hollywood Sign, Not Real Art, Los Angeles, CA, Online Exhibition
2023
“Ventura College Art Department Faculty show,” New Media Gallery, Ventura, CA
Mapping My Queer, GlendaleOUT, Brand Library & Art Center, Glendale, CA
Mapping My Queer, GlendaleOUT, Adams Mini Square Park Gas Station, Glendale, CA
Art Exhibition curated by Carol J. Ramirez, Dutzi Gallery, Cal State Long Beach, Long Beach, CA
Brief & Spectacular, Scranch, Wonder Valley, CA
Collective Memory Installation, L.A. Department of Arts and Culture, Grand Park, Los Angeles, CA
The Body by Design: LGBTQ+ Chicanx Art, Hyperallergic, New York, Online Exhibition
KCHUNG PUBLIC: Care: Radio Plays, The Geffen Contemporary at MOCA, Los Angeles, CA
2022
Coaxial Fundraiser, Robinson S.P.A.C.E., Los Angeles, CA
For Some Land and Some Memory, Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion, Orange Coast College, Costa Mesa, CA
The Fluffy Crimes Digital Exhibition, Fluffy Crimes space, Chicago, IL
Common Ground: Artists Reimaging Community, William Rolland Gallery, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA
2021
What’s Blood Got to Do With It (with Juan Gomez and Dakota Noot), Other Places Art Fair, Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA
“Los Angeles Edition” M_M_Artspace, Online exhibition
“Faculty Exhibition” California State Summer School for the Arts, Online exhibition
Daddies Day, Cuddle Chunk, Online Stream
I REMEMBER 2020, MATA ART Gallery, Online Exhibition
Lydia Takeshita Legacy Exhibit Series: 2, LA ARTCORE, Los Angeles, CA
2020
Holiday Special,Cuddle Chunk, Online Stream
Common Ground: Artists Reimaging Community, William Rolland Gallery, California Lutheran University, Thousand Oaks, CA
“Halloween,” Cuddle Chunk, Online Stream
Artists and Poems, Durden and Ray, Online exhibition
Sentinels, Site-specific works throughout the City of Long Beach, CA
Blemishes (with Juan Gomez and Dakota Noot) for MAIDEN LA, The Brewery, Los Angeles, CA
Los Angeles Landscapes, USC Roski Graduate Building, Los Angeles, CA
2019
Cerritos Collects: Highlights from the Permanent Collection, Cerritos College Art Gallery, Norwalk, CA
Performing Abstraction, LAST Projects, Los Angeles, CA
Useless Man, Highways Performance Space, Santa Monica, CA
Glendale OUT, ace 121 Gallery, Glendale, CA
Generational Aesthetics, Cerritos College, Norwalk, CA
Through Places, Kamikaze hosted by Pøst at MiM Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Girl, It Was Camp, Angel City Brewery, Los Angeles, CA
Temporary Clash, MFA Thesis Exhibition, AD&A Museum, University of Santa Barbara, CA
Multimodal Performance Festival, Curated by Maiza Hixson, Glassbox Gallery, University of California Santa Barbara, CA
2018
Partita, Durden and Ray, Los Angeles, CA
Auction, Monte Vista Projects/Tiger Strikes Asteroid, Los Angeles, CA
Viva Las Fotos: A Day of The Dead Memorial for Laura Aguilar, Ave 50 Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Changes: Works at Union Station, Los Angeles Union Station, Los Angeles, CA
Hacer, Deshacer y Rehacer, Self-Help Graphics and Art, Los Angeles, CA
Queer Biennial 2018 What If Utopia, Navel Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
Dreamteam: UCSB First Year Review Exhibition, Red Barn Project Space, University of Santa Barbara, CA
Paraisos: Queer LA Latinx Art exhibition, curated by Ruben Esparza, Advocate and Gochis Galleries, The Village at Ed Gould Plaza, Los Angeles, CA
Images of Power, Freight Gallery, San Antonio, TX
2017
I AM ERICA, UCLA New Wight Gallery, University of California Los Angeles, CA
Pain/2, Hoyt Gallery at USC Keck School of Medicine, University of Southern California, CA
Crossing Boundaries: Engendering LGBTQ Identities, Ave 50 Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Love & Hate presented by the Arroyo Arts Collective, Ave 50 Studios, Los Angeles, CA
2016 Day of the Dead: Honoring Our Ancestors, Ave 50 Studios, Los Angeles, CA
This Used to be Mexico, Ave 50 Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Chicano International Film Festival Art Show, Plaza de la Raza, Los Angeles, CA
The Sixth Expanse (Action 17), Los Angeles, CA, Performance piece by Harry Gamboa, Jr. (with Virtual Vérite)
Museum of Broken Relationships, Los Angeles, CA
The Sixth Expanse (Action 11), Los Angeles, CA, Performance piece by Harry Gamboa, Jr. (with Virtual Vérite)
Climate for Change for LA, Artillery + Photo L.A., Los Angeles, CA
Dudes, Bros & Gentlemen: The Man Show, 1650 Gallery, and Studio, Echo Park, CA
SNAP to Grid: The Un-Juried Exhibit, Los Angeles Center for Digital Art,Los Angeles, CA
2015
The Sixth Expanse (Action 7), Los Angeles, CA, Performance piece by Harry Gamboa, Jr. (with Virtual Vérite)
The Sixth Expanse (Action 4), Los Angeles, CA, Performance piece by Harry Gamboa, Jr. (with Virtual Vérite)
A Mystery and a Dream, PhotoSynthesis Gallery, Manchester, CT
Toupee Touche, Los Angeles, CA, Performance piece by Harry Gamboa, Jr. (with Virtual Vérite)
Bozlta Journal presents Untamed: Cultivating Collaboration in Arts, Activism, and Scholarship, UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, Los Angeles, CA
2014
Bent-Con 4th Annual Pop-Up Gallery exhibition, Burbank, CA
Stop the Cloud I Want to Get Off: The Art of Instagram, 1650 Gallery, Echo Park, CA
Sidewalk Quinceanera, Los Angeles, CA, Performance piece by Harry Gamboa, Jr. (with Virtual Vérite)
“California Institute of the Arts booth,” Photo L.A., Los Angeles, CA
2013
The Occidental and NELA Bicycle Art Show, Weingart Galleries at Occidental College, Los Angeles, CA
Queue, Los Angeles, CA, a Performance piece by Harry Gamboa, Jr. (with Virtual Vérite)
Stop the Cloud I Want to Get Off: The Art of Instagram, 1650 Gallery and Studio, Echo Park, CA
2012
Los Angeles Concerts presents: Mulholland Derive, Mulholland Drive, CA {Group exhibition of Site-Specific projects}
“SEMAP at La Puente Art”Coco Na Dre Café, La Puente, CA
Leveler’s Discourse, Los Angeles, CA, Performance piece by Harry Gamboa, Jr. (with Virtual Vérite)
ISM: 10th Anniversary Show, Grand Central Art Center, Santa Ana, CA
SEMAP presents: How’s the Water? Metro Art Gallery, Pomona, CA
Black, Brown, and Blue at CU: Toward an Archive and Beyond a gallery, Columbia University, New York, NY
2011
SEMAP presents: How’s the Water? El Monte, CA
Chain Letter, Shoshana Wayne Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2010
A (MUSE) (Salvation Army residential facility), Algeria, Los Angeles, CA
BFA Open Studios, Main Gallery, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
Instant Gratification: A Tribute to Instant Photography, Corpo Gallery at Bergamot Station, Santa Monica, CA
2009
We Might End up with Nothing, Main Gallery, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
Wild Ones, D301 Gallery, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
Sculpture and Photography, D300 Gallery, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
Instant Gratification: A Polaroid Party, Hibbleton Gallery, Fullerton, CA
Interventions, Lime and Mint Galleries, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
Queer Arts Collective, Main Gallery, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
2008
Art Center at Night Open House, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
East Los Angeles College Student Art Show, Vincent Price Art Museum, Monterey Park, CA
East Los Angeles College Photo Department Show, Vincent Price Art Museum, Monterey Park, CA
2007
East Los Angeles Student Art Show, Vincent Price Art Museum, Monterey Park, CA
2006-2007 Where We Live: Student Perspectives, Valley College, Los Angeles; College of the Canyons, Santa Clarita; Santa Monica City College, Santa Monica; and East Los Angeles College, Monterey Park, CA
LECTURES
2025
CSSSA Masterclass, Ryman Arts, Cal State Fullerton, CA
2024
Artist Talk, Contemporary Chicana Art, University of California Santa Barbara, CA
Polaroid Workshop, Greetings from South-Central Los Angeles, South Central LA, CA
CSSSA Masterclass, Saint Mary’s Academy High School, Inglewood, CA
CSSSA Masterclass, Venice Arts, Venice, CA
Art Talk: Sybil Venegas, Christopher Velasco, and Emmy Mickevicius, Presented by Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ
2023
Through Our Lens: Laura Aguilar’s Latina Lesbian Series, CIRCA presented by One Archives Foundation, Advocate & Gochis at the Los Angeles LGBT Center, Los Angeles, CA
Polaroid Workshop, Greetings from South-Central Los Angeles, South Central LA, CA
CSSSA Masterclass, Saint Mary’s Academy High School, Inglewood, CA
CSSSA Masterclass, Girls Academic Leadership Academy, Los Angeles, CA
2022
Artist Talk, Art Museum Futures, CalTech, Pasadena, CA
A Conversation with the Laura Aguilar Trust, Fralin Museum of Art, Charlottesville, VA
Colloquium, Academy of Media Arts, Cologne, Germany
2021
Curator Talk with Dakota Noot, Art 1A, University of California Santa Barbara, CA
Hair-Pulling Between Good and Evil panel discussion, Angel’s Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA
Visiting Artist Lecture, California State University San Bernardino, CA
Getty Museum Talk, California Summer School for the Arts, Valencia, CA
Artist Talk, Identity and Visual Representation, University of Southern California, CA
Artist Talk, Visual Literacy, University of California Santa Barbara, CA
Manufacturing Nature, LA ARTCORE, Los Angeles, CA
2020
Artist Talk, Portrait Photography, University of La Verne, La Verne, CA
Artist Talk, Beginning Drawing, Santa Barbara City College, Santa Barbara, CA
Artist Talk, Contemporary Chicana/o Art, University of California Santa Barbara, CA
2019
“The Fellowship: Subverting the Imagined Family Portrait in Photography,” Society of Photographic Education, Santa Clara, CA
“Re-Queering Fan Fiction” for Lambda Litfest, ESXLA, Los Angeles, CA
In Conversation/ Emerging Leaders in the Arts, Museum of Contemporary Art Santa Barbara
Artist Talk, Contemporary Chicana/o Art, University of California Santa Barbara, CA
2017
Artist Talk, Contemporary Chicana/o Art, University of California Santa Barbara, CA
2015
Artist Talk, Creative Photo-Vision, East Los Angeles College, Monterey Park, CA
Artist Talk, Art Club, Los Angeles City College, Los Angeles, CA
2013
Artist Talk, Creative Photo-Vision, East Los Angeles College, Monterey Park, CA
2011
Photography Department Alumni Panel, East Los Angeles College, Monterey Park, CA
AWARDS, SCHOLARSHIPS, AND INTERNSHIPS
2018-2019
Israel Levitan Graduate Fellowship, UC Santa Barbara
2017-2018
Doctoral Scholars Fellowship, UC Santa Barbara
2015-2017
Lincoln Heights Historic Preservation Overlay Zone Board, Lincoln Heights, CA
2011
Getty Marrow Multicultural Undergraduate Internship, Santa Monica Museum of Art, Santa Monica, CA
2010
Getty Marrow Multicultural Undergraduate Internship, UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center, Los Angeles, CA
The James Irvine Scholarship, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
2009
The Michael Eisner Scholarship, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
2008
Art Center at Night Scholarship, Art Center College of Design, Pasadena, CA
The Fred Aves Scholarship, East Los Angeles College, Monterey Park, CA
COLLECTIVES
2024-current
Queer Photo Booth
2019-current
Co-founder, Scream Queen (with Dakota Noot)
2019-2020
Member, Monte Vista Projects
2012-2017
Performer, Virtual Verite with Harry Gamboa, Jr.
2011-2013
Artist, South El Monte Arts Posse (S.E.M.A.P)
AFFILIATIONS
2022-2023
Co-Leader, SPE Pride Caucus Leadership Team, Mentorship
2019-2023
Society of Photographic Education (SPE)
BIBLIOGRAPHY
2024
Garcia, Nahui, “El Cuerpo: The (Performing) Body and the Photographic Stage.” Artforum, November 2024
Mosqueda, Sarah, “Origin Stories: Artists Examine and Protect their Past at OCCCA.” LA Times OC, Daily Pilot, October 31, 2024
Scott, Chadd, “Phoenix Art Museum Shares Laura Aguilar’s Unique Photographic Voice.” Forbes.com, January 31, 2024
2023
Bait and Switch “Identify” Vol. 4 Spring 2023
Noot, Dakota, “The Founding Mother of Southern California’s Chicano Drag Scene” Hyperallergic, January 11, 2023
2020
Morris, Asia, “This utility box art “Sentinels’ presents an artsy reason to get out and about.” Long Beach Post, October 8, 2020
Zappas, Lindsay Preston, “Art Insider: Maiden LA welcomes all creative and aims to break down hierarchies.” KCRW.com, September 8, 2020
2019
Dambrot, Shana Nys, Art Event: Scream Queen, L.A. Weekly 2019
Stromberg, Matt. “A Screening of Short Horror Films Celebrating Queerness.” Hyperallergic, 2019
Dambrot, Shana Nys, Art Pick: Useless Man at Highways at Highways Performance Space, L.A. Weekly 2019
City of L.A. Department of Cultural Affairs. Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, and Transgender Heritage Month Book 2019
Meyers, Ariana, Discover Experimental Performance Art at UCSB, Voice Magazine, 8 February 2019
2018
Freight Gallery. Images of Power. Exhibition Catalog. San Antonio, TX. Freight Gallery
Harrity, Christopher, 100 Images Explore Queer Utopia at the Queer Biennial (Art),
ADVOCATE, 18, May 2018
Esparza, Ruben, 62 Polaroids of Queer Folk—A Warholian take of L.A., ADVOCATE, 9, July 2018
Self-Help Graphics and Art. Hacher, Deshacher y Rehacer. Exhibition Catalog. Los Angeles, CA. Self-Help Graphics and Art, 2018
City of L.A. Department of Cultural Affairs. Latino Heritage Month book. 2017
Crooks Press. “Making the Cut, Vol 1: The World’s Best Collage Artists.” Melbourne, Australia, January 18, 2017
2016
Miranda, Carolina A., “We watch artist Harry Gamboa, Jr. stage a fotonovela at the site of L.A’s demolished 6th Street Bridge.” L.A. Times. December 24, 2016
Gallery 136 ½ at Photosynthesis, A Mystery and a Dream Juried Exhibition. Exhibition Catalog. Manchester, CT. Gallery 136 ½ and Studio, 2015
2014
1650 Gallery. Stop the Cloud I Want to Get Off: The Art of Instagram Photography Juried Exhibition. Exhibition Catalog. Los Angeles, CA. 1650 Gallery and Studio, 2014
UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center. “Velasco featured in exhibition." CSRC Newsletter, Vol. 10, no. 8. 2014
UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center. “Exhibition reception for “You Found Me." CSRC Newsletter, Vol.12, no. 5. 2014
“Unatmed” Bozalta Journal, 1.1 2014
Gamboa, Jr.,Harry, Vie, 21 Photo Journal 1. Los Angeles, CA, August 2014
2013
Meza, Rosa Linda, “The Hidden Treasure of UCLA: You." La Gente, Vol. 43 no. Issue 3 (2013): 17.
Reft, Ryan. “East of East: Using Vacant Space to Create to Place in South El Monte." KCET.org, January 21, 2013
2012
UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center. “Velasco public Art receives attention." CSRC Newsletter, Vol. 12, no. 6. (2012)
Palma, Claudia S. “Art Collaborative's Exhibit Explores El Monte, Open space,” San Gabriel Valley Tribune, March 14, 2012
2011
UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center. “New Digital Projects." CSRC Newsletter, Vol. 10, no. 2. (2011)
Fragoza, Carribean. “South El Monte Arts Posse: How’s the Water." South El Monte Arts website (semartsposse.wordpress.com), June 15, 2011
Staniec, Kevin, ed. Still Developing: A Story of Instant Gratification. Los Alamitos, CA: ISM: A Community Project, (2009)
2007
East Los Angeles College Campus News. “Elans’ Photos Showcased at Museum." November 14, 2007
Around Alhambra. “ELAC Student Photographers Explore Urban Landscape for the Getty Museum." January 1, 2007
Cascades. “ELAC Student Photographers Explore Urban Landscape for the Getty Museum." January 1, 2007
PUBLICATIONS
2023
The Queerest Year Roundtable, “Drag Me to Roundtable Hell: Photography, queer art & drag with Christopher Velasco” Podcast, February 5, 2023
2021
Olivares-Molina, Gustavo, “Christopher Anthony Velasco brings his art to life.” Cerritos College Talon Marks, September 15, 2021
2018
Voyage LA Staff, Meet Christopher Velasco, Voyage LA Magazine | LA City Guide, 18 December 2018
2017
“Laura and Me: A Lasting Friendship.” Laura Aguilar: Show and Tell. Exhibition Catalog. Curated by Sybil Venegas. Los Angeles: UCLA Chicano Studies Center Press, 2017
2016
“My Aunt Marge.” Entropymag.org, February 4, 2016
2015
“#final poems.” Enclave.entropymag.org, November 5, 2015
“Understanding the Meaning of Shopping Carts.”ZocaloPublicSquare.org, September 16, 2015.
2012
Fragoza, Carribean. “Christopher Anthony Velasco’s Let it Sparkle." South El Monte Arts Posse website (semartsposse.wordpress.com), August 10, 2012
2011
Fragoza, Carribean. “Rethinking the Tourist Gaze." South El Monte Arts Posse website (semartsposse.wordpress.com), July 17, 2011
RESEARCHER/ EDITORIAL DEVELOPMENT
2017
Laura Aguilar: Show and Tell. Exhibition Catalog. Curated by Sybil Venegas. Los Angeles: UCLA Chicano Studies Center Press, 2017
2013
Ricardo Valverde, published by Ramon Garica, Los Angeles: UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Press. 2013
2012
Beatrice Wood: Career Woman-Drawings, Vessels and Objects. Exhibition Catalog. Curated by Elsa Weiner Longhasuer and Lisa Melandri. Santa Monica: Santa Monica Museum of Art, 2012
2011
The Oscar Castillo Papers and Photograph Collection, published by Colin Gunckel, Los Angeles: UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Press, 2011
L.A. Xicano exhibitions curated by Chon A. Noriega, Terecita Romo, and Pilar Tompkins Rivas at Autry National Center, Fowler Museum at UCLA, and Los Angeles County Museum of Art and editorial development for the exhibition catalog published by UCLA Chicano Studies Research Center Press, Los Angeles, CA. 2011
EXHIBITIONS CURATED
2023-2024
Nudes in Nature (with Sybil Venegas), Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, AZ
2021-current
“Photography class Exhibition,” California State Summer School for the Arts, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
2022
Landscapes of Memory (with Sybil Venegas), Ave 50 Studios, Los Angeles, CA
Hair-Pulling Between Good and Evil (Scream Queen presents, with Dakota Noot), Angels Gate Cultural Center, San Pedro, CA
In the Realm of the Senses(Scream Queen presents, with Dakota Noot), Highways Performance Space, Online Exhibition
2020
El Espejo de la Bruja (Scream Queen presents, with Dakota Noot), Flatline Gallery, Long Beach, CA
Seven Wonders for Other Places Art Fair (Scream Queen presents, with Dakota Noot), Online exhibition
Kentucky Fried Pop-Up for Maiden L.A (Scream Queen presents, with Dakota Noot), Online exhibition
Out of the Closet, into the Internet (Scream Queen presents, with Dakota Noot), Online exhibition
2019
Scream Queenwith Dakota Noot,AMEX Gallery, Los Angeles, CA
2018
Viva Las Photos: A Day of The Dead Memorial for Laura Aguilar (with Sybil Venegas), Ave 50 Studios, Los Angeles, CA
“Portraits”GlassBox Gallery, Introduction to Photography, University of Santa Barbara, CA
2016-2019
“Weekend Photography class Exhibition,” California State Summer School for the Arts, California Institute of the Arts, Valencia, CA
PUBLIC WORKS
Crown Castle Utility Box, Long Beach, CA (with Dakota Noot)
COLLECTIONS
Alta Med Art Collection
Cerritos College Art Gallery Permanent Collection
UC Santa Barbara Art Department
Keck School of Medicine at USC Research Collection