We recently connected with Krista Voto and have shared our conversation below.
Krista, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today What did your parents do right and how has that impacted you in your life and career?
My parents took my love for art seriously.
Even though I grew up knowing my grandfather and grandmother were painters, being an artist never felt like a “real” career option in society. So when I went to college and tried to pursue a career in the medical field, I ignored what I knew deep down. Failing most of my first semester was hard, but it forced me to be honest. I told my parents that art wasn’t just something I liked, it was something I had to do. And they listened.
A few conversations with my stepmom, Brenda, have stayed with me over the years. In high school, she once told me, “Artists have a need to make innately within them; they don’t really have a choice.” At the time, I didn’t fully understand it/identify with it, but as I’ve grown, I realize how true this statement is. For artists, creating isn’t optional. Her words gave me confidence to trust that.
Another was when I was choosing a study abroad program. I originally wanted to go to Barcelona, drawn by the city’s excitement, but Brenda encouraged me to consider Florence to study art more seriously. That decision changed my life. I not only made some of my closest friends there, but I was also afforded the privilege of literally sitting in a piazza and drawing from Michelangelo’s masterpieces.
All four of my parents have encouraged me, but looking back, it’s often the small moments of trust from them that have shaped my life and career.
Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.
I’m an interdisciplinary artist and educator based in Atlanta, originally from New Jersey. I hold a BA in Visual Art and Art Education from Ramapo College of New Jersey and an MFA in Sculpture from the Savannah College of Art and Design.
My work currently combines textiles, weaving techniques, and wood to create installations that explore themes of womanhood, protection, transformation, and human interconnectedness. I’m especially inspired by root systems, vines, and organic forms that mirror the feminine form. Through immersive sculptures and public art, I create spaces that invite viewers to reflect on resilience and connection in a time of disconnection.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding part of being an artist is taking an idea that once existed only in a sketchbook and bringing it to life.
A recent example of this is my newest sculpture, entitled ‘Red Madonna’, currently on view at the Plunkett Gallery at Mercer University. I had been drawing iterations of this form for years, refining it, questioning it, building small maquettes, and trying to solve the logistical challenges of transporting and installing a vessel of this scale. It lived in my mind and sketchbooks long before it became physical.
Finally seeing it standing, occupying space the way I have imagined for so long, is amazing. There’s something powerful about watching a structure that once felt impossible become tangible and real.
What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?
Honestly, I don’t operate from a single grand mission or long-term agenda. I just want to keep making things I feel conceptually passionate about.
For me, making isn’t strategic, it’s essential. It’s how I process, question, and understand the world. Without creating, I genuinely wouldn’t know who I am. The studio is where I work through ideas, but it’s also where I stay grounded in myself.
Contact Info:
- Website: http://www.kristavotoart.com
- Instagram: @kristavotoart
