Meet the Artists & Artisans of ArtWorks @Salinas
ArtWorks @Salinas is home to a vibrant and ever-evolving collective of local creatives. From emerging talents to established artists, these resident studio artists represent a rich variety of backgrounds, styles, and disciplines, each bringing a unique voice to the space. While artists featured in our artisanal shop provide an array of handcrafted options to choose from.
Every purchase at ArtWorks helps keep the creative spirit alive, providing direct support to local artists and empowering them to grow and share their work. In addition, a portion of the proceeds advances Arts4MC’s mission to ensure the benefits of the arts remain accessible to all.
Stop by to discover inspiring work, connect with local artists, and experience the creative energy that fills every corner of ArtWorks @Salinas.
Resident Artists
Studios at ArtWorks @Salinas provide more than just a place to create—they offer local artists an affordable, collaborative environment to deepen their practice, engage with the public, and build community.
Current resident artists include a vibrant mix of painters, illustrators, digital media artists, mixed media creators, and animators, each with a unique voice and vision. Get to know their work during regular gallery hours, meet them during monthly First Friday Artist Receptions, or participate in one of their hands-on workshops.
Learn more about leasing a studio at ArtWorks @Salinas
Brenda Scettrini Saglio
Painting
Brenda Scettrini Saglio
Painting
Cristal Hamer
Photography
Cristal Hamer
Photography
Edgar “Edge” Lorenzo
Animation
Edgar “Edge” Lorenzo
Animation
Edgar Lorenzo is a traditional animator and visual artist whose career spans decades of creative exploration and storytelling. Originally from the Philippines, Edgar began his journey in the animation industry working on a wide range of projects that shaped his foundation in hand-drawn and narrative-driven art. In 2016, he relocated to the United States, bringing with him a deep well of artistic experience and a vibrant personal vision.
Today, Edgar continues to expand his creative practice, blending traditional drawing with multimedia storytelling. His work reflects both technical mastery and a quiet curiosity—exploring original characters, themes, and moods that speak to universal emotions.
Currently a resident artist at ArtWorks @Salinas, Edgar shares his craft and creative insight with the community, inspiring others through his dedication to artistic growth and cultural expression.
Learn more on IG: @edge0.00
Nate Stapleton
Painting
Nate Stapleton
Painting
Nate Stapleton is a multidisciplinary artist whose creative journey began in childhood, shaped by a deep love for comic books, science fiction, and fantasy novels. These early influences sparked his imagination and offered solace during turbulent times, fueling a lifelong passion for visual storytelling. The vivid covers of paperbacks and comics led him to drawing, and by his teenage years, he had embraced painting, drawn to the expressive freedom of abstract and impressionist styles. Artists such as Edvard Munch, Claude Monet, and Jackson Pollock left a lasting imprint on his visual language.
In his early adulthood, Nate’s abstract charcoal works were exhibited in art shows. Yet over time, his visual practice slowed as he shifted focus, navigating the challenges of addiction. During that period, he found creative refuge in music, recording and performing across various projects.
Now older and sober, Nate has returned to painting with renewed purpose. His work blends the abstract with the fantastical, using diverse techniques to explore themes of hope, pain, alienation, and wonder. Through each piece, he pushes the boundaries of self-expression while honoring the journey that shaped him.
You can connect with Nate and explore his art and music through: Instagram: @nate.stapleton.3, Website: natessounddesign.com, or Facebook: Nate Stapleton Art and Sound
Shagufta Khan
Abstract Impressionist
Shagufta Khan
Abstract Impressionist
As an abstract- impressionist artist, I aim to evoke profound emotions in the viewers by capturing my own emotions and reflections on concepts such as nature as a healer, universal connectedness through relationships, family as lifelines, and the larger community as a vital support system. Most importantly, I explore the uniqueness and sameness of our human experience, emphasizing that we all share the same feelings and desires.
My art is about channeling my subconscious and conscious thoughts and feelings in the moment, creating most of my artwork spontaneously. I call it “spilling my being on canvas via my artistic energies.” Typically, I have no preconceived plans or sketches. I stand next to my canvas and go with the flow, guided by my inner calling. I pick colors that resonate with me in the moment and use my hands, brushes, or knives as directed by my intuition. I let the process unfold until something emerges that captures my attention. From this point onward in the art’s progression, I develop the painting based on what has become visible to my mind’s eye, understanding the message the Universe is communicating through the art piece. Sometimes, the vision and message shift midway, causing art to change direction as well. This technique infuses my artwork with authenticity and distinct energy, capturing motion, emotions, and my personal interpretation of the world.
Ultimately, my goal is to portray my internal visions and external life experiences in a way that resonates deeply with my audience. I hope to invite them on a journey of contemplation and self-reflection, encouraging them to read their own thoughts, visions, and emotions into the piece they are viewing, thus making it their own.
Learn more on IG: @shaguftasartstudio
Deborah Good
Mixed-Media
Deborah Good
Mixed-Media
Deborah Good is a visual artist and curator whose work reflects a lifelong passion for painting, drawing, and photography. After earning her BFA and pursuing graduate studies in painting at San Francisco State University, Deborah left a successful career as an art director to return to the hands-on creative process that first inspired her.
Her artwork has been featured in both solo and group exhibitions in Santa Cruz, Carmel Valley, and San Francisco. Currently, her paintings and pastel drawings are on view at 480 Lighthouse Gallery and Sun Studios in Pacific Grove, California. Deborah’s pieces reveal a thoughtful interplay between intuition and observation, inviting viewers to slow down and connect with the nuances of color, form, and place.
Since 2021, she has also served as Exhibit Curator for Arts4MC, where she supports fellow artists and brings dynamic visual experiences to the community.
Kelly Melendez
Photography
Kelly Melendez
Photography
Kelly Melendez is an artist whose work is shaped by travel and the experience of moving through unfamiliar places. She uses photography as both documentation and personal reflection, exploring how landscapes, cities, and fleeing encounters reveal the emotional character of a place.
For Kelly, travel is not about accumulation but attention. Her work invited viewers to experience places as something felt as much as seen, encouraging a quieter, more intentional way of looking.
Artisanal Shop Artists
In addition to the resident studio artists, ArtWorks @Salinas also features crafts and products from other local creatives. Meet the makers behind the Artisanal Shop—a vibrant hub of local talent where each handcrafted piece is rooted in personal story, heritage, and heart. Our featured artists bring a diverse array of skills to the table, from textile to printmaking, candle making, and more. Discover your next unique gift! Open free to the public every week.