Staff Bios – ArtReach San Diego

Xana Sofia Goulart, she/her

Xana began her teaching journey after completing her B.A. in Visual and Public Art at California State University Monterey Bay in 2018. She became a Museum Educator with the Monterey Museum of Art where she taught classes and led workshops and museum tours for all ages. Currently, Xana is pursuing her Master in Art History at the Academy of Art University.

As a young artist growing up in East Side San Jose, attending public schools, outreach and afterschool programs like these were Xana’s only exposure to art education and real life working artists. She believes this impact is the reason she gained the confidence to pursue a career in the arts and is fulfilled to be paying it forward to the next generation of young artists.

Her approach to art emphasizes “doing it for the process”; promoting self-exploration because art is not limited to certain materials or techniques as the limit to creativity does not exist. She wants all her students to know that when it comes to art, the possibilities are endless and we all have a unique voice to share. Xana is rooted in the belief that art is a universal language that can inspire empathy and bridge gaps. Xana aims to create a safe and empowering environment where children can embrace their own creativity, develop self-confidence, and find beauty and community in diversity.

Aili Buescher, she/her

Aili is a high school junior at the Waldorf School of San Diego with an interest in creating art that asks questions. She explores the answers to these questions through metaphor, shape, different media, and subject matter. The themes present in her artwork include political advocacy, the explorations of our world’s current state, and our internal worlds that navigate our physical and emotional bodies.

Aili attended the 2022 session at California State Summer School of the Arts majoring in painting, and minoring in sculpture. Through this summer intensive she was able to work outside of her comfort zone, and was given the Herb Alpert award for emerging young artists. She is excited to learn about mural-making and how this program can help continue to develop her artistic exploration and voice.

Aiza Pedregon, she/her

Aiza is a multi-racial Latina artist, passionate about the journey of self-discovery and creative exploration. As an artist, her work celebrates and honors the variety of cultures that have shaped her identity through her travels and community. Her art is all about color, life, emotion and feeling the feels; a reflection of the human experience.

She’s had the privilege of guiding young artists to embrace their unique identities and cultural heritage through art camps, community centers, programs, travel abroad, as well as in the classroom. Her teaching philosophy is rooted in the belief that art is a universal language that can bridge gaps and connect hearts. She strives to create a nurturing and inclusive environment where young artists can explore their emotions, express themselves, understand the beauty of diversity, and use their creativity to spark conversations and cultivate community.

¡Vamos a crear juntos!

Ian Stiles-Mikl, he/him

Ian Stiles-Mikl is an artist and designer who is most content with a brush in hand. He firmly believes in the importance of community art and its power to foster unity, empower community engagement, offer cultural representation, and beautify urban landscapes. Possessing a BFA (Emphasis in Painting) from Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, Ian’s lifelong admiration for murals and street art drives his enthusiasm to share his passion through community projects.

You can learn more about him and his work here: ianstilesmikl.com

Sara Kian, she/her

Sara has been volunteering with the ArtReach Mural Program since 2020. She graduated from UC San Diego with a BA in Visual Arts and a BS in Human Biology. Sara enjoys working with acrylic paints, ink, charcoal, and digital art. She loves incorporating her passion for biology in her artwork and plans to carry her art experience with her as she aspires to one day become a physician. In her free time, you can find Sara writing film reviews, solving puzzles in an escape room, or learning how to knit.

Leslie De La Torre, she/her

Born and raised in National City, Leslie is a local artist and photographer currently studying digital media and design. She believes art is essential for self-expression, mental health, community, and inspiring social change.

Emma Baxter, they/she

Emma is a high school student at Mt. Everest Academy. An artist since childhood, they are passionate about providing people of all ages access to art. Emma prefers working with watercolors and ink, but she has begun to appreciate paint since being introduced to muraling a few years ago. When they’re not covered in an art medium, you can find her creating music, reading, or taking a stroll through a neighborhood park.

Jenna June, she/her

Jenna earned her BA in studio art from UCSD in 2017. Her personal art practice is intuitive and process focused, with an emphasis on using mostly recycled, found, or natural materials. While occasionally dealing with some heavy themes, she aims to bring a sense of humor and a little handmade touch to everything she makes.

Jenna has been a teaching artist for the last several years and loves to help bring the transformative power of art to the classroom. Believing that learning is always a collaborative process, she approaches education from the idea that everyone is both a teacher and a student and aims to create a safe and accessible environment for students to create, explore and grow. Seeing the look on student’s faces when they create something their proud of is one of her favorite things.

Lerida Vega, she/her

Lerida began her teaching journey when she was an intern with Art Produce in San Diego where she helped artists lead workshops while finishing up her B.A. in Studio Arts at San Diego State University in 2022. Lerida is an Artist & substitute Teacher who joined ArtReach in 2023, where she seeks to intertwine her love for art with her instructional experience.

Her approach to art emphasizes that it does not have to be restricted to fine art materials or practices but instead can be created with materials accessible to everyone. Her artwork pulls from her culture and experiences from her time living and commuting between San Diego and Tijuana. Lerida believes that the art class experience and process of exploring creativity through art should be accessible to all students due to its immense power to develop socio-emotional skills within children. She believes art creates a unique connection that empowers children to embrace and develop feelings of safety and self-exploration.

Kristina Stahl, she/her

Kristina (she/her) is dedicated to creating wonderful user experiences in the arts, encouraging youth creativity, and preserving folk art & craft. She joined the team in 2023 after graduating from UCSD with a B.A. in Studio Art and a B.A. in Art History, Theory, & Criticism. As the Community Programs Coordinator, Kristina helps Yasmine develop new programming, teach after-school programs, and run Community. Access. Connection. Workshops at the ArtReach HQ. When she’s not at ArtReach, she enjoys gardening, trying new restaurants, and going on backpacking trips.

Donald Gould, he/him

Donald is an Educator and Designer specializing in print design, illustration and branding. He was raised in Chula Vista and Imperial Beach and received his undergraduate degree from San Diego State University and continued to earn a graduate degree from Savannah College of Art and Design with an emphasis in Graphic Design. After living up and down the California coast over the years working in the action sports and fashion industry, he has settled back in San Diego and is currently an instructor and head of the graphic design department at Southwestern College. Donald has always enjoyed working with his hands, rather it be classic motorcycles and cars or community projects and seamlessly brings a hands-on approach to his design with his unique styling. When he’s not watching kitsch movies for personal amusement, he’s working to expand his creative range by experimenting with old-world trades and alternative forms of communication.

Josué Baltézar, he/him

Josué (he/him) is an illustrator, muralist, and printmaker who believes art should be accessible to everyone. He has led mural and multimedia projects with students across San Diego. As an immigrant from Mexico that was raised in Chula Vista, Josue understands the responsibility and privilege of using art to center and support causes that are important to his community. You can see more of his art and design work on his website www.josuebaltezar.com

Esteban Sánchez, he/him

Esteban joined the team in 2023 as a Mural Program Coordinator, specializing in leading collaborative mural projects in school and community settings. Esteban received a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Marketing Management in 2016 from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. He has been actively involved in the arts and education spaces for over 10 years, through programs such as the Youth Arts Collective in Monterey, and Palenke Arts in Seaside. He is a firm believer that the arts should be a formative part of every child’s education experience. In his free time, he enjoys producing music, attending music festivals with friends, watching baseball games (Go Giants), and spending time with family.

Becca Dwyer, she/her

Becca originally joined ArtReach as a mural artist partner and has also contributed to past art auctions involving electric guitars, shoes, and vinyl records. Volunteering on mural painting days and donating art to community fundraisers allowed her to follow her true creative calling, and now she’s looking forward to pursuing her MA in Museum Studies while developing her role as the Communications and Design Coordinator.

As a muralist and painter, Becca enjoys the variety of objects she gets to create with and strives to create art that elicits joy and makes people feel good. When she’s not creating, sharing ideas on social media, or coming up with new designs, you can find her watching reality tv shows, cuddling with her cats, or sipping her way through the local coffee shops. Learn more about Becca and her art process here: https://www.beccadwyer.com/

Nina Lubarsky, she/her

Nina is a local San Diego designer and artist who specializes in block printing and digital design. She creates original prints that are inspired by the block printing process, which involves carving designs into linoleum and printing onto a substrate, like paper or fabric. This style is rich in texture and bold silhouettes, showing handmade imperfections in the most perfect way. Nina started block printing a few years ago and fell in love with this low-tech, tactile process, which balances her time working on a computer. She is inspired by nature, plants, animals and ancient symbols and stories.

You can find out more about her and her work here: hummhouse.com, instagram.com/hummhousedesigns

Katy Yeaw, she/her

Katy Yeaw is a mural artist, printmaker, and blanket designer based in sunny San Diego. Heavily influenced by an extensive screen printing background, she describes her art as simple, bold, and cheerful. Katy holds a B.A. in Studio Fine Arts from Juniata College, and was introduced to printmaking at SACI in Florence Italy. She continued her advanced printmaking education at the Glasgow School of Art in Scotland.

Katy’s greatest joy working with ArtReach comes from seeing pure elation on faces of students as they quickly discover how a little paint on a drab wall can have a truly transformative impact. Art can be everywhere, and cultivating children’s artistic curiosity can illuminate a lifetime of creativity.

You can find out more about Katy and check out her artwork here: katyyeaw.com.

Lux Meteora, she/her

Lux Meteora is an artist and educator based in Madrid, Spain. She works with traditional and digital media, developing sequential images that grow into visual storytelling, inspired by the natural world and its kinships. As an art teacher for elders, she helps crafting tools for their expression and representation. You can learn more about her and her work here: luxmeteora.com.

Angela Russell, she/her

Angela is an artist & professional baker who joined ArtReach in 2022. She began teaching at the New Children’s Museum in San Diego where she led studio workshops and summer camps while attending the University of California San Diego’s Visual Arts Program. In 2013 she combined her love for art & dessert and opened a bakery specializing in contemporary cake design.

Her aim in the classroom is to encourage exploration & experimentation through the process of art making. She believes that creating art can help children learn to trust their unique voices and become more comfortable engaging in new experiences. Outside of the classroom, Angela can be found baking sweets for her friends, hugging her senior puppies, and spending time with her family.

Milan Finnie, she/her

Raised in a blood-and-beyond family consisting of people from numerous cultures, Milan’s crossing with various traditions inspired her to explore artworks from all over the world through research and travel. Her work is a reflection of the unique characteristics found in culture-specific artworks, particularly observing color choice, pattern, and bold shapes. Milan studied Design at University of California, Davis, as well as the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, where she found tools to further refine and develop her artwork.

Coming from a background in pyrography (wood burning artwork), Milan has now expanded to more mediums of artwork, to which she applies her bold, crisp aesthetic. Her work is consistently rhythmic and simple. In effort to connect with viewers, she captivates by incorporating pattern, selective color variety, symbols, and minimal detail. The unmistakable simplicity of Milan’s work aims to relay a clear message. Her work is modern in it’s stamp-like resemblance to pop-art, while classic in its reference to traditional patterns and symbolism. Milan’s art has now become less about viewing pleasure, and more about the power of connection between the artist and the viewer.

You can learn more about her and her work here: https://www.instagram.com/milan.finnie/

Selena Pankretz, she/her

Selena has been teaching art for nine years and has a passion for igniting creativity and nurturing young artists. Combing her background in both communication and art Selena’s work focuses on narratives of identity. Growing up mixed-race in New Mexico enabled her to explore how the elements of identity and culture come together resulting in collaboration and conflict. Her teaching style centers on students seeing themselves reflected and represented in narratives around them. Selena loves empowering students to communicate their specific point of view and gain confidence, as well as making art accessible and building community. When she isn’t in the classroom, Selena stays busy raising her four children, practicing aerial sports, and trying to make the world just a little more lovely.

Catherine Dzialo-Haller, she/her

Born in Middletown, Connecticut, Catherine’s earliest memories were with a Crayola, always loving to draw. Her mentor was John Sweeney, her high school art teacher…a true artist. He inspired her to enter exhibitions, winning two national Scholastic Art Awards by 16.

After moving to California, Catherine attended Otis Art Institute in Los Angeles, then moved to Hawaii, where she attended the Honolulu Art Academy and the University of Hawaii. After many years, she returned to California and earned her degree from the Academy of Art University in San Francisco.

Throughout Catherine’s career, she has been honored with many awards and is represented in galleries in Southern California and Connecticut. She describes herself as a contemporary realist who paints abstractly. Her painting journey is through abstract areas of color, shapes, and contrast, and when completed and taken as a whole, surprises her by becoming realistic.

Liesel Plambeck, she/her

Liesel is a Taiwanese-American artist and designer based in Los Angeles. Her work is influenced by a background in print, textile, and surface design. She opened her creative studio in 2017 and has created artwork, products and murals for major brands, artists, homes and public spaces.

Experimentation with materials and mediums is at the core of her diverse practice, including collage, painting, and printmaking, creating modernist-influenced designs that are dynamic and contemporary. Her work is manifested in paintings, prints, patterns, rugs, textiles, products and murals. You can learn more about her and her work here: lieselplambeck.com

Hanna Gundrum, she/her

Hanna is a muralist, illustrator, and creative mentor living in San Diego. Her work is inspired by nature, textile art, vintage patterns, and travel. She is passionate about the power that art has to build community and bridge gaps in our society. When she is not painting you can find her thrifting, cooking or on adventures with her dog Chorizo. You can learn more about her and her work here: littlehouseink.com

Regan Russell, he/him

Regan Russell is an Asian-American multi-disciplinary artist from San Diego, CA. He began his career creating realistic pencil drawings and digital portrait paintings. His artwork has evolved to intertwine traditional mediums and bright palettes with woodworking, murals, and design. In his latest body of work, Regan fashions “portal paintings”—colorful, wood-framed graphic landscapes that feature open doorways to places unknown. Beams of energy and searching clouds enter and exit portals as a reminder we are all on an unpredictable journey of defining ourselves and it’s ok to embrace what we don’t understand. Regan is influenced pop culture, comics, hip hop, and maintaining that we are what we put into the universe. You can learn more about him and his work here: reganrussell.com

Chloe Moya, she/they

Chloe is a high school student at Mt. Everest Academy. She is incredibly passionate about visual arts & art history. She loves working with acrylic paints and pastels though sometimes her creativity branches into other mediums such as photography and writing. Her goal is to inspire joy through art and she loves working with people of all ages on community-based projects. In her free time, you can find her wandering amongst shelves of books looking for her next read, or digging through baskets of records searching for that perfect album.

Anna Laroque, she/her

Anna joined ArtReach in 2019 as an intern to assist with fundraising events, specifically the first Charity Art Auction in 2019 when artists turned surfboards into art. She instantly felt connected to the mission of ArtReach and the passion, creativity, and compassion of its team members. Her role has now expanded to manage ArtReach’s fundraising & development, community partnerships, marketing & communications, and other administrative duties. Anna received a BA in Mathematics from the University of Kansas in 2008 and a Professional Certificate in Meeting and Event Planning from San Diego State University in 2017. Anna’s previous experience includes technical writing and data analysis, work in childcare facilities and summer camps, and lifelong participation in visual arts classes in various media. In her spare time, she likes to read, go hiking, FaceTime with her niece and nephew, and watch college basketball (Rock Chalk Jayhawk!).

Yasmine Kasem, she/her

Yasmine is an American-Egyptian Muslim sculptor creating works that focus on the perception of identity in a transcultural atmosphere, reflections of personal history, and remarks on social stigma. “My current practice is focused on navigating the delicacy of material and its ability to communicate tension and struggle under stress. Pushing a substance to its limit before its breaking point, freezing the moment before a collapse.” Her art and teaching center around telling stories from her life and helping others tell theirs. She has taught at Futures Academy and Lux Art Institute in addition to her work at ArtReach. Yasmine holds a BFA in Sculpture from Indiana University and an MFA in Visual Arts from the University of California San Diego. You can learn more about her and her work here: yasminekkasem.com

Sarah Holbach, she/her

Sarah joined ArtReach in 2013 as Program Manager and lead Teaching Artist, taking the reigns as Executive Director in 2018. She oversees the quality and content of our programs, inspires and connects our community, and ensures ArtReach is a vibrant and engaging space for working artists to connect and thrive. Sarah kickstarted ArtReach’s accelerated growth in numbers served, new program offerings, and budget sustainability, ensuring over 7,000 youth across San Diego County have access to free visual arts education each year.

Knowing arts education as her true calling since she was sixteen, Sarah engaged in youth mentorship opportunities to learn about the nonprofit sphere firsthand. She created and managed large-scale dynamic youth arts education programs in Riverside County from 2004-2012, including P.L.A.Y. (Parents of Literate, Artistic Youth), an art and literacy program for pregnant and parenting teens, community-based art and service projects for formerly incarcerated youth at California Family Life Center, and A.R.T.E.R.Y., an annual immersive sculpture and installation program with an exhibition at the local community college that fostered teens and young adults returning to school to continue their education.

Sarah brings this community-focused and youth-centered mindset to all aspects of ArtReach. She knows our history, our goals, obstacles, and opportunities. Sarah creates lasting bonds between ArtReach and our partners while remaining active in designing, supporting, funding, and implementing ArtReach Programs. She spends her out-of-office hours soaking in the sunshine with her family, petting all the dogs, and hopping around San Diego gardens and concert venues.

Isabel Halpern, she/her

Izzy specializes in leading collaborative, site-specific murals at schools and community sites. She joined the ArtReach team in 2015 after graduating with a BFA in Studio Arts from UC Berkeley. In 2018, she designed and launched the ArtReach Mural Program after leading several murals and spending the summer as an intern with Mural Arts Philadelphia. She believes that every single project brings a new learning experience, a group of people to help form connections between, and a story to tell through painting. In her free time, she enjoys playing folk music and spending time with friends and family.

Laurie Evans, she/her

Laurie obtained her BFA at the Laguna College of Art and Design in 2016 majoring in Illustration with an emphasis in fine art. She has worked as an art teacher and studio manager in both Southern California and Australia. Laurie uses her experience as both an art student and teacher to cultivate a safe learning environment where her own students can create regardless of personal ability. Her personal work straddles abstraction and representation while focusing primarily on the female form which is designed using a tonal approach. The rendered figure is often complimented with bold graphic design and color. Her goal at ArtReach is to provide students with projects that are challenging yet accessible.

Brooke Benedix, she/her

Brooke has been with ArtReach since 2015 when she started as a Teaching Artist. She believes her prior role as a Teaching Artist informs her current role and is dedicated to empowering our young artists and school communities in San Diego County. Growing up in a small town where there was little to no access to art education, Brooke saw at a young age the amount of missed opportunities for her and her peers to thrive creatively. Originally a theatre kid turned art historian and visual artist, Brooke received her BA in Art History from Humboldt State University in 2011 and realized quickly that she wanted to pursue a career in arts education. Brooke’s biggest aspiration is to provide students of San Diego with creative opportunities that allow them to unlock their artistic potential while stepping in the shoes of historical, modern, contemporary, local artists whose art and biographies reflect the identities and experiences our young people are living through. Brooke’s favorite response to hear from students creating is: “It’s like magic!”. In her spare time, Brooke likes to tap dance, roller skate, and obsess over her cat Little Edie.

Sierra Aguilar, she/her

Sierra has been an art educator since 2016, both as a classroom teacher and Teaching Artist. She believes the essential function of art education is empowering students to tell their unique stories through creativity. Each student enters the art room with diverse backgrounds, traits, abilities, and experiences. When creating tailored lesson plans for each school site, Sierra references artists working in student-representative communities. As students see themselves reflected in the work of other artists, they become more empowered to create and share their own stories, adding their voices to the artistic symphony around us. Her currency artistic practice of collage focuses on fragmenting of imagery to mimic memory and the patchwork of identity. Sierra holds a BFA in Art Education from the Academy of Art University and a Single Subject Teaching Credential in Art from San Diego State University. You can learn more about her and her work here: stardustcoyote.com