ARTIST BIO

Salome Milstead (born May 21, 1967, in Encino, California) is a multidisciplinary artist recently relocated from San Francisco, California, to Newfane, Vermont. They received their MFA in Experimental Filmmaking from the San Francisco Art Institute (SFAI) between 1992 and 1995, where they worked closely with filmmakers Barbara Hammer, George Kuchar, film curator, Steve Anker, and writing mentor Kathy Acker. Milstead later studied Modern Literary Theory at University of California, Santa Cruz, engaging with scholars such as Teresa de Lauretis, Carla Freccero, and Victor Burgin.

As a teaching artist for over two decades, Milstead has mentored countless students, guiding them toward successful careers in art and film with a focus on fostering creativity in diverse communities. Milstead’s involvement in education has been a central part of their career, allowing them to blend their artistic ethos with side-by-side creative collaboration and real-world mentorship.

Their work has been exhibited at notable venues, including the Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, ArtSpan, and San Francisco Cinematheque. Their films have been featured in the Frameline Gay and Lesbian Film Festival and projected atop the Salesforce Tower. They are the recipient of the Frameline Completion Grant, the Murphy Scholarship Award, and the ArtSpan Studio Residency.

From 2004 to 2024, Milstead served as Co-Director of the Media Department at Ruth Asawa School of the Arts, where they developed innovative approaches to collaborative filmmaking and creative mentorship. They also founded the SF Summer Arts Workshop Residency, an intergenerational program fostering community through collective art making, hosted by the Workshop Residence in San Francisco from 2016 to 2018. Milstead continues to advocate for diverse voices in the arts and seeks to create projects that connect people through shared creative experiences.