SANTO                                                    Painter | Illustrator | Filmmaker

EDUCATION 

Art Center College of Design. California, USA. Communication Design/Bachelor of Fine Arts. (1996-1999)

California Institute of Technology, Pasadena, California, Undergraduate academic studies in Neuroscience.  (1996-1997)
 

ABSTRACT PAINTING CORPORATE COMMISSION

    INTACT INSURANCE. (Toronto, Canada)

    ING DIRECT CANADA. (Toronto, Canada)

    ROOSTER POST. (Toronto, Canada)

    GRHA KEDOYA HOSPITAL (Jakarta, Indonesia)

    AMR ENERGY (Jakarta, Indonesia)

PRIVATE COLLECTION

    Works held in private collections in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Boston, Berlin, Dusseldorf, Cape Town,     

    Singapore, Hong Kong, Jakarta.

EXHIBITS AND SCREENINGS

   “Lars and Friends.” Project: Digital Book (author, programmer and illustrator)  AIGA Minnesota (2016)

    “Lars and Friends.” (author, programmer and illustrator) Bologna Children Book Festival (2016)

    “L'Aubade.” (author, illustrator, animator)  Toronto International Film Festival. (2013)

    “Tsunami, Horses and Civilization.” (author, illustrator, animator) Toronto International Film Festival. (2010)

    “Tsunami, Horses and Civilization.” (author, programmer and illustrator) Nuit Blanche Toronto (2010)

AWARDS

    Lars and Friends. Kirkus Star, best digital books 2012, Kirkus Media (2015) 

PROFESSIONAL CAREER 

Creative Direction for commercial campaigns (2000-2013). Clients include Expedia, Ferrero,                 Mercedes Benz, ING Bank, Fairmont Hotels. Max Mara, Costume National, Diesel, W Magazine. 

BIO 

Santo, born Carla Susanto, is an Indonesian-born, Canadian-American abstract painter currently residing in Berlin. Growing up in Indonesia during the challenging and discriminating Suharto regime, she seized an opportunity to leave the country by securing an art scholarship at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, California, USA. 

With a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Art Center College of Design, Santo's artistic journey has been a tapestry of accomplishments. Her artworks have been prominently featured at prestigious events including the Toronto International Film Festival, Bologna Children Book Festival, Nuit Blanche, Kirkus Archive! magazine, and AIGA exhibitions. This exposure has garnered her widespread recognition and acclaim from audiences, critics, commercial clients and collectors alike.

Santo takes pleasure in residing in diverse, cosmopolitan cities, forging connections with people from various cultures. Embracing a philosophy of slow travel, she immerses herself in a city for several years, integrating its culture and norms into her daily life rather than approaching it as a mere tourist.

Beyond her artistic endeavors, Santo's life is rich and diverse. As a dedicated mother, she finds joy in raising her teenager daughter. Her passions extend to the nature and waters, as she nurtures a deep love for rowing, and her musical talents shine through her virtuoso-level skill in playing the piano. 

Her commitment extends to teaching classical piano and music composition, where she aims to inspire and nurture a new generation of musicians. Santo's journey—from escaping a challenging political climate to becoming a celebrated artist and educator—stands as a testament to her resilience, creativity, and dedication to the arts.

WORKS [Selection]

All works by SANTO see shop for purchase