Istar Quintero

Istar Quintero

[BFA] Studio Art – Photography

In Enigmatic, I create photographic sculptures that challenge and deconstruct preconceived notions, particularly those tied to identity. Never static, identity is fluid and constantly shifting, influenced by factors such as race, ethnicity, sexuality, and class. My sculptures embody this fluidity and ambiguity, refusing to confine it to a singular, fixed definition. Instead, they mirror the complexity of human experience and how our intersecting identities evolve based on context and lived experiences. In a culture that seeks to simplify and categorize, I highlight fixed identities as an illusion, a simplification created by social constructs that fail to capture who we are as individuals. In contrast to the stillness of traditional photography, my interactive sculptures invite engagement and reflection. I reject the notion that we must constantly adapt and contort our identities to please others. I emphasize being multifaceted by requiring the viewer to interact and play with sculptures made of multiple refracted parts.  

Originally from Guadalajara, Mexico, Istar Quintero is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts with a photography option at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln with an expected graduation of December 2024. Her awards and honors include Elgas Project Grant (2023 & 2024) and Hixson-Lied Study Activity Grant, nominations for the Undergraduate Elgas Promise Award and the Howard & Vreeland Award in the School of Art, Art History & Design. Her work has been included in the Fall 2024 Capstone Exhibition, LUX Instructor & Intern Show, 37th & 38th Annual Juried Undergraduate Exhibitions, Into the Dark (room), Mexican American Student Association Banquet, and in a solo exhibition, Emergence, at the MEDICI Gallery. Through volunteering, participating in the UNL Photo Club, serving on the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts Student Advisory Board, Proyecto Cultural Board, and working at the Sheldon Museum of Art and Lux Center for the Arts, Istar is an active member in Lincoln’s art community. Her future goals include making art accessible to migrants and refugee communities in Lincoln. 

@istar_darkroom