Art by Courtney Cantu

Artist Statement

I consider all of my work to be the byproduct of a lifelong journey rooted in an innate urge to make sense of different experiences and stay present in my body. I am consistently inspired by the idea of discovering hidden areas within myself that, despite painful experiences, still abound with hope, possibility, and wonder. From that perspective, I find endless motivation to create detailed drawings and illustrations (both digitally and traditionally) that explore themes of identity, life, death, nature, and my own understanding of reality.

By blending artistic expression with an appreciation for the more surreal, whimsical, and mysterious aspects of life, I believe I can further examine my beliefs and desires, whether conscious or unconscious, and thus be empowered to be (and know) myself more deeply.

Artist Bio

Courtney Cantu was born in New Hampshire and moved to Virginia in 2018. After taking art classes at Northern Virginia Community College (NVCC), she chose to continue her studies at George Mason University (GMU), allowing her to explore and expand her mind while strengthening her creative abilities and fostering her connection to the arts.   

Courtney belongs to A Seat at the Table, an artist collective founded on principles of art as social action. Together, they breathe new life into old, donated, or discarded ceramic tea sets to create new, unique objects that honor forgotten or unknown women from history. The group’s series “It Started with A Tea Party,” highlighting three figures of the women’s suffrage movement, was featured in the Strathmore Museum’s 34th Annual Exhibition in March of 2026.

Some of her solo works include Tether, an exploration of humanity’s relationship with technology inspired by Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, showcased in the Spring 2024 NVCC/GMU Student Juried Exhibition ‘Beyond,’ hosted at the Lorton Workhouse Arts Center, and in ‘In the Making: a Spectrum of Student Creativity,’ an exhibition held in January 2025 at the Studio Gallery in Washington, DC.

Courtney creates from a desire to discover hidden areas within herself that, despite painful experiences, yearn to find connection and create meaning.