Meet Santi Saucedo | Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Santi Saucedo and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Santi, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I’m originally from Mexico City, but I moved around a lot growing up, spending most of my time between Northern Virginia and Pasadena, California. My mother is a painter, and she always made sure my brothers and I were surrounded by art. That early exposure deeply shaped my appreciation for creativity and fueled my desire to pursue my own artistic path. As a Mexican artist, my heritage and identity are central to my work. I love blending ancient forms with experimental glazes and finishes to create pieces that feel both spiritual and contemporary.

My professional background is in creative direction and graphic design, so I’ve spent a lot of time in the digital design world. Working with clay gave me a much-needed balance between precision and hands-on creativity, but I also think my formal design background influences my style and the choices I make when bringing my sculptures to life.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
To any artists who connect with my work, I’d say this—what might seem outwardly simple took me years to identify and refine. It’s been a long journey to reach a place where I feel truly happy creating work that expresses what I want out of art and who I am as an artist.

Some designs have lived in my head for over a decade before I finally felt ready to bring them to life the way I envisioned. I’ve explored a wide range of materials—resin, wood, 3D printing, cement—while diving into different themes and influences. Through it all, what I’m most proud of is that I kept searching, and I stayed honest with myself when something didn’t feel right. The real reward has been in the discoveries no one else will ever see. That process shaped my artistic vision into something clear, exciting, and deeply personal.

My work functions as a cohesive body, continuously building on itself while still allowing me to explore within this creative playground I’ve carved out for myself.

I’m beyond grateful for the positive reception my work has received, but even if that weren’t the case, I’d still feel like I’ve found my voice—one that resonates with me and pushes me to keep creating.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Food is a huge part of the Atlanta experience. For breakfast, Homegrown is a must. If we’re not already stuffed, Lee’s Bakery on Buford Highway is the go-to spot for banh mi.

Dinner is a tough choice—Daddy D’z has the best BBQ in the city, and Gaja or Soba in East Atlanta never disappoint. For drinks, Banshee is great for cocktails, while 529 or The Earl are perfect if you’re in the mood for a beer and live music. I’ve over-indexed on EAV, so I’ll also add S.O.S Tiki Bar in Decatur to the list.

When we’re not eating, there are so many great galleries to check out—ABV, Cat Eye, Kai Lin, Echo, Peter Street Station, and of course, any new exhibits at The High.

Ideally, The Supermarket has something going on in the evening so we can plan around it. I love what they’re doing for Atlanta—there’s such a strong DIY and community-driven energy that feels like it’s pushing the art scene forward. I’m always happy to support them.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
The Atlanta art scene has been incredibly welcoming and supportive, especially the gallerists and curators of color and those from minority communities who are creating opportunities for artists to connect and showcase our work to broader audiences. They are the cultural catalysts of Atlanta.

A huge shoutout to @patl.sv, @madison__nunes, @crlzceramics, and @iambritsade for sharing their slice of the art world with me—I’m beyond grateful.

Recently, I’ve had the chance to show at @cat_eye_creative, @thesupermarket.atl, @kailinart, and @echo_contemporary_art. I can’t thank them enough for building such amazing spaces.

Website: https://santisaucedo.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/santi.s.art/