Thea Villaseñor was born in Los Angeles in the early 1970s and spent much of her adolescence in Salem, Oregon. She currently resides in a quiet neighborhood in Portland, Oregon, with her family.

 

She holds an undergraduate degree in Visual Design with a focus on photography from the University of Oregon, where she studied under Professor Dan Powell and Professor Terri Warpinski. Her specialties include alternative photographic processes and darkroom work, and she has found mixed media particularly captivating since studying with Professor Margaret Prentice at U of O. Additionally, Thea participated in a seven-day photographic workshop in Eastern Oregon led by Professor Terri Warpinski.

 

During and after college, Thea had several exhibitions. More recently, she showcased her work in a studio show in May 2024 and was the featured artist with her mixed-media prints at Potted in Portland in June 2024.

 

Thea developed a love for photography as a child while exploring old photos found at garage sales with her parents. She became curious about the stories behind the images and the people captured in them. Her interest in history has significantly influenced her artistic style and the subjects she photographs and designs. Thea is passionate about recording history through a visual medium and utilizing processes that date back 150 years.​

​

Thea’s work is an accumulation of history, culture, antique processes, and a dash of contemporary influences.