Born in Italy, Christian Sala's unique perspective is shaped by 12 formative years spent living in Kenya, Africa, before pursuing a traditional art education in Italy. This rich, cross-cultural background informs an art practice focused on the intersection of human influence and the natural world. Now based in Oregon, the artist is currently pursuing a dual master’s degree at the University of Oregon, complementing a previous Bachelor's degree in Economics with a minor in Art History from a New Jersey institution. The artist primarily works in mixed media, incorporating both natural and non-natural materials. Their motivation is rooted in challenging the viewer to confront the environmental costs of consumption, a theme explored in works like the series "Tragedy of the Commons." This series dissects the degradation of public land, such as Spencer Butte (the inspiration for this piece), by recreating a 12 x 12-inch "slice" of overused ground. Their work has been previously exhibited in Oregon at the Umpqua Valley Arts gallery for the "Materiality Matters" show.
