Sacha Vega is an artist who collages across movement, poetics, and humor to invite focus into the ideologies that train our bodies to move. Creating through performance, time-based media, and writing, her practice encourages critical play in reframing genres of embodied instruction. Often placing a sense of mastery in complication with a novice in order to unsettle hierarchies around ability, discipline, class, race, and gender. Her own body is imprinted by: American dance theater, Filipino karaoke parties, a Bolshoi ballerina, immigrant parents, suburban aspirations, Post-Modern chance forms, and physical comedy. Working in concert with performers and audiences alike, she’s invested in using her practice as an experimental space to test dogmas of authority, horizontal organization, and temporary utopias.

She has exhibited and/or performed at Movement Research at Judson Memorial Church, Westbeth Gallery, FringeArts, Theaterlab, Leslie-Lohman Museum, Mason Gross Galleries, Life World, Baxter St x CCNY, Java Project, Pelham Art Center, and 99cent Plus Gallery. She is a 2025/2026 New York Live Arts Fresh Tracks artist and a 2026 Da Vinci Art Alliance Collective Futures Fellow. She has had residencies at at New Dance Alliance's Satellite Program, KYL/D, LEIMAY’s Incubator Program, Wassaic Project, Van Noord Van Noord, Casa Tagumerche, Stoneleaf Retreat, and ARTHA Project. She’s hosted workshops at Abrons Art Center, Performance Space NY, Zimmerli Museum of Art, and coLAB arts. She has a BFA in Photography from Pratt Institute and an MFA in Visual Art from Mason Gross School of the Arts. She currently teaches media and performance class at Pratt Institute and Rutgers University.

She is 1/3 of the artist-led initiative Memory Foam. They collaborate on curating exhibitions, publishing, programming and producing artist interview series.

Say hi @sachachavega@gmail.com.

UPCOMING PERFORMANCES

05/2026 – Fresh Tracks New Works, New York Live Arts Theatre, NY, NY

10/2026 – Foolish and Fallible (new collaborative piece with Alyse James), Collective Futures Festival at Icebox Project, Philadelphia, PA

EDUCATION

2020 — 2022 Mason Gross School of Art, Rutgers University, NJ. MFA in Visual Art

2009 — 2013 Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY. BFA in Photography + Minor in Art History

GRANTS + AWARDS

2025 – Creative Philadelphia – Illuminate the Arts Grant, Philadelphia, PA

2025/26 – New York Live Arts; Fresh Tracks Residency & Performance Program, NY, NY

2024 – Rauschenberg Dancer Emergency Grant

2024 – Scarlet Arts Rx Grant, Arts in Health Research Lab, Rutgers University, NJ

2024 – Pig Iron's Summer Session Access to Practice Scholarship

2020 — 2022 Graduate Fellowship, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University

RESIDENCIES + INTENSIVES

2026 – Da Vinci Art Alliance – Collective Futures Fellow, Philadelphia, PA

2025/26 – New York Live Arts; Fresh Tracks Residency & Performance Program, NY, NY

2025 – New Dance Alliance Satellite Program, New York, NY

2024 – Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers Artist in Residence, Philadelphia, PA

2024 – Pig Iron Theatre Company’s Summer Session: Journey of The Mask

2024 – LEIMAY Spring Incubator, New York, NY

2024 – Van Noord Van Noord Residency, Los Angeles, CA

2023 – Pig Iron Theatre Company’s NEH Summer Institute: Preserving & Transmitting American Ensemble-Based Theatre, Philadelphia, PA

2023 – Casa Tagumerche, La Gomera, ES

2020 – Wassaic Project, Wassaic, NY

2019 – Stoneleaf Retreat, Kingston, NY

2016 – ARTHA Project, Queens, NY

EVENING-LENGTH ORIGINAL PERFORMANCES

2025 – PINCH, 3AM Theater, Queens, NY *Directing, Writing and Performing

2025 – 1-Way Mirror, Icebox Projects x Cannonball Festival, PA *Directing Company [REDACTED]

2025 – 1-Way Mirror, 3AM Theater, Queens, NYC *Directing Company [REDACTED]

2025 – W(hite)omen in the Afternoon, FringeArts (as part of Miniball festival,) Philadelphia, PA

2024 – PINCH, MAAS Building, Philly Fringe x Cannonball Festival, Philadelphia, PA

2023 – a canon, a tightrope, a trust fall, Westbeth Gallery Courtyard, NY, NY

2022 – The Choice Part, Mason Gross Galleries, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

ENSEMBLE PERFORMANCE

2025 – Wayward, Rockaway Beach, Queens *performing in original work by Kim Brandt as part of Beach Sessions commission

2025 – Broadchannel, Coney Island, NYC *performing in original Mia Martelli dance piece

2025 – Geography of a Body, Movement Research at Judson Church, Manhattan, NYC *in Tina Bararian’s AoCC piece

ONE OFF PERFORMANCES + EVENTS

2025 – Movement Research at Judson Church Artists of Color Council Evening, NY, NY

2025 – SalOn?, Life World, Brooklyn, NY (movement duet with Mimi Doan)

2025 – Surreliana (hosted by Mitchell Ryan), Upstairs at Abyssinia, Philadelphia, PA

2025 – Opening for Emily Weitzman’s Furniture Boys, Caveat Bar, NYC

2025 – Movement Research at Judson Church, Manhattan, NYC

2024 – Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers’ Inhale/Exhale Performance Series, Philadelphia, PA

2024 – Pretty Polly Presents : FREAK SHOW, Brooklyn, NY

2024 – MOMENTA #13, Trans-Pecos, Queens, NY

2024 – Performance Works in Progress with Jack + Noah, Theaterlab, NY, NY

2024 – Notes From A Heavenly Soup release show, coLAB arts, New Brunswick, NJ

2021 – Yield: Keys to the Roundhouse, Rutgers University Farm, New Brunswick, NJ

2020 – Performing 2020: A Performance Lecture, MSGA Virtual Open Studios

2019 – Ode To The Peppercorn: Nomadique Dinner series, Brooklyn, NY *

2019 – New York Art Book Fair Zine Tent, MoMA PS1, Queens, NY *

2019 – Artists Eat Ice Cream Season 2 Screening, Deli Gallery, Queens, NY *

2018 – Available Seating, Honey’s, Brooklyn, NY *

2018 – Memory Foam launch and screening, Java Project, Brooklyn, NY *

2017 – One If By Night: A Ride Under The Cosmos, Artist Alliance X BikeNY, NY, NY

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2022 – The Choice Part, Mason Gross Galleries, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

2019 – Where’s The Invitation, Leslie-Lohman Museum, NY, NY *

2015 – SKY’S THE LIMIT, 99¢ Plus Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2013 – SEE SAW, Pratt Institute Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

SELECT GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2023 – Dandelion Wine, Central Server Works Gallery DTLA, Los Angeles, CA

2023 – Playback, curated by Park McArthur + Jason Hirata, Westbeth Gallery, NY, NY

2022 – The elusive ground and a few ways to grip it, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Mason Gross Galleries, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

2021 – i miss you terribly when you’re away, Mason Gross Galleries, Rutgers

University, New Brunswick, NJ

2020 – Anti – Matters, Mason Gross Galleries, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

2020 – a place to visit, JIP Gallery x Olympia Arts, online

2019 – Slide, JIP Gallery, NY, NY

2018 – Annual Juried Exhibition curated by Matthew Leifheit, Baxter St X CCNY, NY, NY

2018 – Elastic Behavior, Java Project, Brooklyn, NY *

2018 – A Rose is A Screen is a Rose, Pelham Art Center, Pelham, NY

2016 – The Plant Show, 99¢ Plus Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2015 – 99¢ Plus Gallery Inaugural Show, 99¢ Plus Gallery, Brooklyn, NY

2014 – Across the Gutter, Oranbeg Press Pop Up, Brooklyn, NY

2014 – CONNATURAL, Dossier Outpost, NY, NY

2014 – High Tide, Dossier Outpost, NY, NY

2014 – ~dream boat~, Park Guen Woo Pop Up, NY, NY

2013 – What Is/What Matters, Powerhouse Arena, Brooklyn, NY

LECTURES + SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS

2024 – Guest Critic: Pratt Photography Junior Survey, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY

2024 – Do you believe in life after BFA? Alumni AMA Panel, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

2023 – Artist Panel, Undergrad “Post-Grad” Panel, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

2022 – Artist Talk, Digital Art 1 Class, Madison, NJ

2021 – Artist Talk with Emma Safir, Department of Art History, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

2020 – Artist Talk, Photography 1 Class, Rutgers University, New Brunswick, NJ

2018 – Artist Talk, Photography 1 Class, Stern College, NY, NY

2018 – Artist Talk, Senior Thesis Photography Class, Parsons New School, NY, NY

2017 – Artist Presentation, Marble Hill Supper Club, Bronx, NY

2017 – Artist Presentation & Panel, Piece by Piece, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY

WRITING + REVIEWS

2025 – The Myth of Zero Risk, Culturebot

2025 – Safety First, Brooklyn Rail

2025 – Editors’ Selects: December 2025, Impulse Magazine

2025 – Reflections, Refractions, And Remembering: A Look At 1-Way Mirror, thinking DANCE

2025 – Company [REDACTED]'s 1-Way Mirror Up Close, Gryllus Mag

2024 – Roundtable: How Does It Live On?: Terms in the Practice of Ensemble and Devised Theater, Theater Magazine, Duke University Press

FEATURES

2020 – Artist Blog, Der Grief

2020 – A Visual Interview, Coven Berlin

2019 – The Archive by Leslie-Lohman Museum, Issue 67 *

2017 – Art In America, OUTLINE Magazine

2016 – A Visual Interview, Kollektiv Gallery

2016 – Photographer of the Week, Capricious Magazine Online

2015 – The Next New Wave, Nylon Magazine

2015 – SKY’S THE LIMIT, FIRSTLOVE Magazine

2015 – Content Aware: Sacha Vega, Lenscratch

2015 – If Eye Lazy, PACKET BiWeekly

2013 – Cover/Artist Feature, Prism Magazine

ARTIST PUBLICATIONS

2022 – The elusive ground and a few ways to grip it, exhibition booklet, Rutgers University

2019 – Exercises Where Art Might Happen, Memory Foam Projects Publishing

2019 – That’s All, Memory Foam Projects Publishing

* Notes artworks, events, and commissions created in collaboration with Memory Foam

SELECTED TEACHING

2024 – present • Visiting Lecturer, Time and Movement, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY

2021 – present • Part-Time Lecturer in Media and Photography, Mason Gross School of the Arts, Rutgers University, NJ.

2026: Instructor, Media II-B: Advanced Media & Performance

2025: Instructor, Media II-B: Advanced Media & Performance

2023 – 2024: Instructor, Media 1-B: Experimental Practices & Techniques (3 semesters)

2023: Instructor, Photo 1A: Introduction to Digital Photography

2023: Long-Term Substitute, Seminar in Media: Finding your people, finding your voice

2022: Instructor, Media 1-A: Introduction to Media Art: Screen/Image/Sound

2021 – 2022: Instructor, 4-D Fundamentals: Time and Space (3 semesters)

2020: Teaching Assistant, Photography IIA: Advance Digital and Print

2023 – 2024 • Adjunct Lecturer in Media and Photography, Stern College for Women, Yeshiva University, NY.

2024: Instructor, Advanced Video

2024: Instructor, Introduction to Digital Photography

2023 - 2024: Instructor, Introduction to Video (3 semesters)

ADDITIONAL WORK HISTORY

Raphael Montañez Ortiz • Project Documentarian + Video Editor • 07/23 – 02/24

Raphael Montañez Ortiz ‘s is a pioneering figure in experimental film works in of the late 1950’s. In the 1960s, he was a key figure in the international Destruction Art movement, with performative actions that would result in powerful sculptures made from destroyed objects. Currently, I am collaborating with him in the development of a sculptural media project called Procession.

TED Conferences LLC • Art Editor & Instagram Lead • 06/17 – 11/19

Managed all in-house and commissioned editorial art for Ideas.ted.com. Delegated digital art production for various distribution partners. Additionally, I oversaw TED’s Instagram, from its strategy to content production to audience development.

TED Conferences LLC • Art Production Specialist • 01/14 – 06/17

TED Talks LLC is a non-profit media organization that posts international talks online for free distribution under the slogan "ideas worth spreading". In my role I created editorialized imagery for the online blog, ted.com, and social media. On-site conference role included photo assisting and photo freelance team management.

Dan Martensen Studios • Studio Manager • 03/15 – 02/16

Dan Martensen is a fashion and commercial photographer living in NYC. As his studio manager I oversaw all studio needs for Dan’s jobs. I also facilitated the production of his artist book “Wolves Like Us” alongside his subsequent Wolfpack Show at Deitch Projects in 2015.

Letha Wilson Studios • Artist Assistant • 01/13 - 09/14

Letha Wilson is an American artist working in photography and sculpture. I contributed to her studio's rhythms, including darkroom printing, research, installation support, and construction assistance for her photo-based concrete sculptures.

MILK Studios • Equipment Room Freelancer • 05/12 - 09/12
Worked on troubleshooting and assisting clients during studio hours, hands-on movement, and building of overnight equipment orders and sets.

Cass Bird Studios • Studio Intern • 08/10 – 08/11

Cass Bird is an artist, photographer, and director who lives and works in New York City. My responsibilities included assisting the photo team on shoots, scanning and archiving negatives, and support bookkeeping.

SELECTED ARTIST-DESIGNED + LED WORKSHOPS

Bring Your Own Brat: A Workshop in Embodied Mutiny • August 2025

Performing Arts Forum, France

Intro to Photo: From Studio to Photoshop • December 2024

As part of MGSA/Middlesex High School portfolio program, the 6-hour workshop was designed to introduce students to contemporary portraiture, studio lighting and Photoshop editing.

Collage vs Overwhelm • Winter 2024

A four-part workshop made possible by Scarlet Arts Rx Grant. It was designed to help students explore and process their emotions through the creative and accessible medium of collage.

Performance Scores Playground • March 2024

As part of Mason Gross School of the Arts’ Spring Festival Programming, I hosted an introductory workshop to performance scores and exercises. The scores have been authored by other artists and I have found them to be hugely inspiring as means to get out of my own way with a project. Some of the artists include Faye Driscoll, Sigrid Lauren, Kym Moore, Yoko Ono and Deborah Hay.

Bring Your Own Brat • March 2024

Hosted by Scottie Harvey during my residency at Van Noord Van Noord.

Bring Your Own Brat • August 2023

Hosted by Flux Factory and curated by Jemila MacEwan and Amelia Heintzelman, this workshop was curated as part of their Feralpy programming on Governor’s Island.

Intro to the Photo Studio: From Shooting to Editing • December 2022

As part of MGSA/Middlesex High School portfolio program, the 6-hour workshop was designed to introduce students to contemporary portraiture, studio lighting and Photoshop editing.

Movement for Camera • November 2022

A workshop for Ryan Woodring’s Media class at Drew University. The session consisted of grounding exercises, theater games, writing prompts, and a camera shooting assignment.

Bring Your Own Brat • Fall 2022

Hosted by Abrons Art Center x The School of Making Thinking, this was a 4-week long experimental movement and writing workshop anchored by the divisive archetype of the “Brat”.

Colors, Codes, and Visual Poetry • March 2022

This workshop was hosted at the Zimmerli Art Museum and inspired by Ukrainian artist Fabian Yuriev’s symbol-based scoring. Participants created coded paintings stemming from their own writing.

Bring Your Own Brat • Spring 2022

An experimental movement session called Bring Your Own Brat as part of Performance Space’s Open Movement program, curated by Monica Mirabile.

AMARDV: Healing Through The Arts • Summer 2021

I designed and taught a 6-week summer course on mixed-media collage and photography for students between the ages of 10-16. The program was facilitated through a local New Brunswick arts x public health organization.