Sandra Antongiorgi

Sandra is a unique individual whose talents are multifaceted. She is an accomplished singer, songwriter and painter. Sandra has a rare breadth and depth of artistic expression and ability that rise to an exceptional standard.

Born into a musical Puerto Rican family, Sandra is a musician's musician. Her talent is undeniable and her singing is at once raw, powerful and effortlessly smooth. Versed in both Spanish and English, Sandra has proven herself to be a nimble lyricist who generously delivers unique and seductive performances that are a feast of auditory excellence.

She has performed with a number of musicians from around the world and along the way has gathered influences from traditional Caribbean sounds, Soul, Rhythm and Blues, Rumba, Gitano music to create her own expression of World, Latin, Neo-Soul sound. In 2001 she had the great privilege of being featured as an opening act for Wyonna Judd at the House of Blues Chicago where she left fans wanting more. She also enjoyed the experience of having a song featured on the 2004 Latin Dragon movie soundtrack.

Her visual Arts career began while living in Chicago's Little Village neighborhood. It was at age 15; she had the rare opportunity to study under illustrious and established muralists and artists. Sandra soon excelled as a visual artist, contributing to scores of murals that have dotted the Chicago cityscape in neighborhoods such as Pilsen, Humboldt Park, Hyde Park, Wicker Park, River West, Bridgeport and South Chicago. Her work has been shown in museums and exhibitions throughout the city, including the School of the Art Institute and the National Museum of Mexican Art.

As a studio artist, Sandra Antongiorgi draws upon life experiences, power relationships, mysticism and spirituality to tell a story. She is a champion of children's rights and works to expose the damage caused by family violence, incarceration and systematic marginalization. She is keen to delve deeply into struggles normally hidden from view. Sandra's surreal imagery is at once thrilling and thought provoking.

Her commitment and passion to arts & education combined with her dedication to philanthropy, she is a frequent contributor to community arts projects. Sandra loves to involve community members, especially youth, in becoming involved in the arts. She has used her experiences to create and implement music and art initiatives rooted in diversity which serves as models for programs at a schools and community centers at a national level. Her work with Chicago Public schools and After School Matters program, where she has taught mural painting, drawing, studio painting, visual poetry, found object arts creation as well as art as a means to therapeutic self-expression, is just an example of the level of commitment and connection Sandra has to the community.