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Hello, I am

ChiChai Logo-final.png

aka Francesca Mateo
(she/her)

ChiChai (she/her) is a multi-disciplinary artist, educator, and community-gatherer born and raised in Occupied Ohlone Land, also known as the Bay Area. Whether teaching or creating, ChiChai's work is intersectional in its roots to nature, feminism, and the dismantling of colonial mindsets. You can catch her teaching art and how to use art as a tool for decolonizing to youth and adults.

ChiChai received her MA in International Studies from University of San Francisco (2016), in which she was awarded Most Original Thesis for her master's thesis "Challenging Filipino Colonial Mentality through Philippine Art." She has taught youth for various nonprofits throughout the Bay Area, including Destiny Arts, Galing Bata, and Youth Art Exchange.

ACCOLADES

2021
Kapwa Gardens Mural Resident for Balay Kreative, a Fil-Am Arts Hub in SoMa Pilipinas, San Francisco's Pilipino Cultural Heritage District.

2018-2020
Filipinx Teaching Artist Fellow for Root Division, teaching her own curriculum to the youth of Galing Bata. Galing Bata serves the youth of SoMa Pilipinas.

2016
Awarded "Most Original Research" for thesis Challenging Colonial Mentality with Philippine Art when earning her Master of Arts in International Studies at the University of San Francisco

select interviews / features

Let's Collab

Want to invite ChiChai as a teacher or speaker? Interested in inquiring a custom artwork? Simply want to say hello and tell her if you're an air, fire, earth, or water bender? Fill out this form and she will get back to you in 1-3 days.

In case you're wondering, she considers herself a firebender.

Thank you for reaching out! I will get back to you shortly.

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