![Oil painting of a boardwalk shooting stand from Seaside Heights, NJ called "Shoot the Terrorist," which featured a large photo of binLaden, beer funnels and neon paint ball splatters during the summer of 2009.](/sites/default/files/styles/artist_registry_gallery/public/content/artist-registry/2019-11/Sangastiano_ShootTheTerrorist_SeasideNJ.jpg?itok=0ntWYLrF)
Artists Registry
Fairfax VA United States
Artist's Statement
Toni-Lee Sangastiano is a contemporary painter whose work examines the carnivalesque. Her interest in this theme began as a child on the boardwalks of the Jersey shore, later fostered at Fairleigh Dickinson University by Professor Marie Roberts and Artistic Director Dick Zigun of Coney Island's Sideshows by the Seashore. Toni-Lee is now one of the leading sideshow banner painters in the United States.
Her paintings, mixed media and installations include exhibitions at the Yale School of Art, Robert Hull Fleming Museum, Shelburne Museum and Tate Modern, London.
Toni-Lee earned an MFA in studio art at Montclair State University and lived in Vermont for fifteen years, where she became a Professor of Graphic Design. She also studied classical drawing and painting at the Angel Academy of Art in Florence, Italy with Michael John Angel and Martinho Correria, and she most recently earned a Ph.D. in Visual Arts: Philosophy, Aesthetics and Art Theory, from the Institute for Doctoral Studies in the Visual Arts.
She currently lives in Virginia with her spouse and is a Digital Media Specialist and Assistant Professor of the Practice at Georgetown University.
Resume
“Among the deftest painters is Toni-Lee Sangastiano...”Mark Jenkins, Washington Post
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2015 Misguided Adorations, Champlain College, Burlington, VT
2010 Circus Day in America, Outdoor Bannerline Installation, Shelburne Museum, Burlington, VT
2006 Step Right Up...Portraits of a Sideshow, Living Learning Gallery, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2019
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Journeys Onward, Wickford Art Association, RI (Jurors: Alicia Dietz, sculptor, furniture maker and mixed media artist, and U.S. Army veteran Blackhawk (UH-60) pilot and company commander who served in Iraq and worldwide and Paul Bouchard , a sculptor and painter, and U.S. Navy veteran who served aboard the destroyer USS Ramsey in the Western Pacific during the Vietnam War.
2018
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Writing on the Wall, Curve Gallery Exhibition, Maryland Federation of Art, Annapolis, MD (Juror: Roberta Pardo, founder of Urban Walls Brazil, Board Member of the Arts Council of Anne Arundel).
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D•CONSTRUCTION: Metamorphosis of the City, Office Space Gallery, Detroit, MI.
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Sexual Violence Awareness Month Art Show, presented by the Survivor's Council of H.O.P.E. Works, Hive Collective, Burlington, VT.
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Art Hop Open Studio, Burlington, VT.
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Authentic Marks 2018. Dubai Art Week, Dubai, UAE (catalogue).
2017
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Papering the Town: Circus Posters in America. Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT.
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Art Hop Open Studio, Burlington, VT.
2016
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Papering the Town: Circus Posters in America. Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT.
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Faculty Exhibition. CCM Gallery, Champlain College, Burlington, VT.
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Art Hop Open Studio, Burlington, VT.
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Studio Montclair Viewpoints 2016. aljira, a Center for Contemporary Art. Newark, NJ. Juror: Mary Birmingham, Curator at the Visual Arts Center of New Jersey.
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Art & Soul Presents: Women in the Arts. MANA Contemporary, Jersey City, NJ.
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Visual AIDS Postcards From The Edge. Sikkema Jenkins & CO, NY.
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Sodom By The Sea Salon. Coney Island Museum. Coney Island, NY. November 7, 2015 —February 6, 2016. Closing reception: February 8 from 2 to 4:30 pm.
2015
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Sodom By The Sea Salon. Coney Island Museum. Coney Island, NY. November 7, 2015 —February 6, 2016. Opening reception: Saturday, November 7 from 2 to 4:30 pm.
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MADE, curated by curated Wylie Garcia, Mark Waskow, and DJ Hellerman. SEABA Gallery. Burlington, VT.
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Art of Horror. SPACE Gallery. Burlington, VT.
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Faculty Exhibition. CCM Gallery, Champlain College. Burlington, VT.
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Art + Soul. Dunkiel Saunders. Burlington, VT.
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Sideshow. Edgewood Avenue Gallery, Yale School of Art. New Haven, CT. January 13 –March 20, 2015 (catalogue).
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We Are The South End. SEABA Gallery. Burlington, VT. January 9, 2015 – January 30, 2015.
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Artist Philosopher. AW Asia. New York, NY (catalogue).
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Visual AIDS Postcards from the Edge Benefit. Luhring Augustine Gallery, New York, NY.
2014
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Art Studio Exhibiton at Richmond University, Florence, Italy.
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Amazing Marvels. Off Rhode Gallery, Washington D.C. (Exhibition image).
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Insta-Artist. Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, Dowell, MD. Juror: Ryan Hill, Director of Digital Learning Programs, at the Hirshhorn Museum & Sculpture Garden.
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Visual AIDS Postcards from the Edge Benefit, Luhring Augustine Gallery. New York, NY.
2013
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Barnstormers Studio Stroll. The Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT.
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Visual Aids Postcards From The Edge Benefit. Sikkema Jenkins Co. New York, NY.
2012
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Tracey Moberly: TWEET ME UP!. The Tanks, Tate Modern, London, England.
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20 Mediums. S.P.A.C.E. Gallery, Burlington, VT.
2011
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Drawing Connections. Sienna Art Institute, Sienna, Italy.
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Church of Circus. 152 Cherry Street (Old Outdoor Gear Exchange), Burlington, VT. Festival of Fools special event/pop up gallery. August 5 – August 31, 2011 Opening Reception: August 5, 2011.
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Supersize: is bigger better?. Annmarie Sculpture Garden & Arts Center, Dowell, MD. Jurors: Nancy Davis, Curator, National Museum of American History, Smithsonian Institution & James F. Langley, Curator of Exhibitions, Calvert Marine Museum.
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Wide Open 2, Curated by Nathan Trotman, Associate Curator of the Soloman R. Guggenheim Museum, BWAC, Brooklyn, NY, March 12 – 27, 2011 weekends 11-4 P.M.
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Under the Big Top: The Fine Art of the Circus in America, The Fleming Museum, January 25 - May 22, 2011. Opening Reception: Thursday, February 3, 2011 from 5:30–7:30 P.M.
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Visual AIDS Postcards from the Edge Benefit, CRG Gallery. New York, NY.
2010
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Circus Day In America (40 ft x 15 ft commissioned outdoor bannerline installation) Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT.
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The Funny Face Project, Jonathan O’Hara Gallery. New York, NY.
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Art Hop Juried Show, Soda Plant, Burlington, VT.
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Hoff’s Harmonica Cases, North End Studio, Burlington, VT.
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Housing Works Design On A Dime, Metropolitan Pavillion, New York, NY.
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Get Your Freak On, Space 242, Boston, MA.
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I Heart Art. Work Gallery, Brooklyn, New York, NY.
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Visual AIDS Postcards from the Edge Benefit, ZieherSmith, New York, NY.
2009
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Art Hop Juried Show, Burlington, VT.
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The 6th International Juried Exhibition curated by J. McNamara, SICA, Long Branch, NJ.
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Circus Art, Studio Place Arts, Barre, VT.
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Visual AIDS Postcards From The Edge Benefit, Metro Pictures, New York, NY.
2008
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Night of 1000 Drawings, Artists Space Benefit, New York, NY.
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Art Hop Juried Show, Burlington, VT.
2007
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Visual AIDS Postcards From The Edge Benefit, James Cohen Gallery, New York, NY.
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Art Hop Juried Show, Burlington, VT.
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Gridworks, Flynndog, Burlington, VT
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Iconographies, VCAM Space, Burlington, VT.
2006
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Step Right Up...Portraits of a Sideshow, Living Learning Gallery, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT.
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The 9th Annual Mermaid Show, Coney Island Museum, Brooklyn, New York.
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The Drawing Show, Organization of Independent Artists, Gallery 402, New York, NY.
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CCV Faculty Exhibition, Firehouse Center for the Visual Arts, Burlington, VT.
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Artists That Teach, Firehouse Center for the Visual Arts, Burlington, VT
2005
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Night of 1000 Drawings, Artists Space Benefit, NYC
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Visual AIDS Postcards From The Edge Benefit, Robert Miller Gallery, NYC
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Art Faculty Exhibition, University College Art Gallery, FDU, Teaneck, NJ
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Art Helps: Art Auction to Benefit Survivors of Hurricane Katrina, JDK, Burlington, VT
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Art Hop Open Studio, Burlington, VT
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Art Hop Juried Show, Maltex Building, Burlington, VT
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The Drawing Show, Organization of Independent Artists, Gallery 402, NYC
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Artists Aid New Orleans Benefit Art Show, Ch’i Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
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The EXCHANGE Exhibitions, Salena Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
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The 8th Annual Mermaid Show, Coney Island Museum, Brooklyn, NY
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Auction (online), Artists Paint for Peace, NY
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Babes, The Many Aspects of a Woman, Holland Tunnel, Brooklyn, NY
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Digitally Mediated, Organization of Independent Artists, NYC
2004
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SArtcard, Sharjah Art Museum, United Arab Emirates
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Art Auction, University College Art Gallery, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ
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Visual AIDS Postcards From The Edge Benefit, Brent Sikkema Gallery, NYC
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Art Faculty Exhibition, Liberty International Airport, Newark, NJ
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Fresh Meat/Young Blood: NJ’s Newest Masters, Shore Institute of the Contemporary Arts (SICA), Long Branch, NJ
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12 and Under, Amos Eno Gallery, NYC
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The 7th Annual Mermaid Show, Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
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Spectra, Diesel Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
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Arts Alive, Union Station Gallery, Burlington, VT
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Pushing the Envelope, Flynndog, Burlington, VT
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Krispy Juicy, MFA Thesis Exhibition, Montclair State University, White Box Annex, NYC
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Domestic Affairs, Equality Now art benefit, Locus Media Gallery, NYC
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Flush, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
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Process Progress, Firehouse Center for the Visual Arts, Burlington, VT
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Tunnel of Love, Holland Tunnel, Brooklyn, NY
2003
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Night of 1000 Drawings, Artists Space Benefit, NYC
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Art Faculty Exhibition, Liberty International Airport, Newark, NJ
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Art Faculty Exhibition, University College Art Gallery, FDU, Teaneck, NJ
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14 @ 1978, Gallery 1978, Maplewood, NJ, Curated by Erinn Frayer
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McKinsey & Co., Florham Park, NJ
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The 6th Annual Mermaid Show, Williamsburg Art & Historical Center, Brooklyn, NY
2002
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Portraits, Asbury Art Center, Asbury Park, NJ
2001
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Auction, Coney Island Museum, Brooklyn, NY
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The 4th Annual Mermaid Show, State of Art Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
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BWAC Pier Show Nine, Brooklyn, NY
2000
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Ozzfest 2000, National Rock Festival of the United States, Sponsoring Agent: Electric Eden, Brooklyn, NY
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Further Fest, National Rock Festival of the United States, Sponsoring Agent: Electric Eden, Brooklyn, NY
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Night of 1000 drawings, Artists Space Benefit, NYC
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BWAC Pier Show Eight, Brooklyn, NY
1998
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Sideshow Banners, History & Visual Presentation, National Collegiate Council Conference, hosted by Oklahoma State University, Chicago, IL
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Sideshow Banners, Northeast National Collegiate Honors Council Annual Conference Co-hosted by Gallaudet University and Howard University, Kellogg Conference Center, Washington D.C.
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Sideshow Banners, History & Visual Presentation, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Madison, NJ
1997
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Sideshows By The Seashore, Coney Island USA, nonprofit organization, Brooklyn, NY
COLLECTIONS
Silver Special Collections, Billings Library, University of Vermont, Burlington, VT
Collaboration with A Revolutionary Press, Robert Lax Poetry Foundation, Chicago, IL
Shagraf Group, Dubai, UAE
Champlain College, Burlington, VT
Palace of Wonder, Baltimore, MD
Free Museum of Times Square, New York, NY
Coney Island Museum, Brooklyn, NY
EDUCATION
2019 PhD in Visual Arts: Philosophy, Aesthetics, and Art Theory, Institute For Doctoral Studies In The Visual Arts (IDSVA), Portland, ME
2013-14 Angel Academy of Art, Drawing Fundamentals Programme, Florence, Italy
2011 Inside the NY Artworld, Sotheby’s Institute of Art Online
2010 Still Life Painting Workshop with Martinho Correria, Angel Academy of Art, Florence, Italy
2008 Painting Methods of the Great European Academies, Angel Academy of Art, Florence, Italy
Methods of the Masters: Underpainting and Overpainting Procedures with Maestro John Angel,
Angel Academy of Art, Florence, Italy
2007 Still Life Painting Workshop, Angel Academy of Art, Florence, Italy
Painting the Figure in Oil with Maestro John Angel, Angel Academy of Art, Florence, Italy
2004 MFA – Painting, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
1998 BA – Art/Graphic Design/Illustration, magna cum laude, Fairleigh Dickinson University, Teaneck, NJ
1995 New York Studio School of Drawing, Painting, and Sculpture, New York, NY
1994 School of Visual Arts, New York, NY
AWARDS/GRANTS
2010 Vermont Public Radio (VPR) Winter Artist Mug
2009 Juror’s Selection, Art Hop Juried Show
Honorable Mention, The Art Interview–16th International Annual Online Artist Competition
2005 2nd Place: Two Dimensional Art, Art Hop Juried Show
2004 Award of Excellence, Manhattan Arts International
Artist’s Grant, Vermont Studio Center
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Print Media
Kereszi, Lisa. Sideshow, catalogue. Edgewood Avenue Gallery, Yale School of Art. New Haven, CT
Lilly, Amy. “Talking Art With Toni-Lee Sangastiano,” Seven Days, April 27, 2016
Jones, Rachel Elizabeth. “Visiting Critic Program Brings Perspective to Local Arts,” Seven Days, December 30, 2015
Finnegan Schick. “Side Show” celebrates carnival history, culture,” Yale Daily News, January 14, 2015
Mark Jenkins. “Amazing Marvels,” Washington Post, April 4, 2014
Megan James, “Popcorn! Peepholes! Women Made of Steel! Step Right Up to Church of Circus,” Seven Days, August 11, 2011.
Pamela Polston, State of the Arts: “A New Collective of Artists Brings Another Circus to Town,”
Seven Days, June 22, 2011.
Pamela Polston, “Behind the Big Top, Art Review: Circus Day in America: 1870–1950, Shelburne Museum,” Seven Days, July 13, 2010.
Susan Green, “When the Circus Came to Town: Shelburne Museum exhibit celebrates circus day,” Burlington Free Press, June 24, 2010.
Brent Hallenbeck, “Shelburne Museum Packs an Emotional Punch,” Burlington Free Press, May 13, 2010, 1D.
Marc Awodey, “Art: Lilac and Gardening Sunday” Seven Days, May 14-20, 2010, 74.
Marc Awodey, “Ring Mastery,” Seven Days, July 1-July 8, 2009, 32 A.
Jeb Wallace-Brodeur, “The Circus is coming,” Times Argus, June 19, 2009
Mike Ives, Eyewitness: Taking note of visual Vermont. “Cirque du Risque, Sideshow & Tell: Toni-Lee Sangastiano’s Freaky Art,” Seven Days, Oct 29-Nov 5, 2008, 23 A.
Art Review, Seven Days, June 20-June 26, 2007, 26 A.
Gail Rosenberg, “On Stage: Deep Throat, Preview: sword swallower Roderick Russell,” Seven Days, June 22-June 29, 2005, 26 A.
“VT sword swallower on TV,” Burlington Free Press, January 31, 2005, Living Section.
Mark Awodey, “Art Review: Getting There,” Seven Days, February 25-March 3, 2004, 47A.
Brooklyn Bridge magazine, “The Stoop: Turning on the Ocean,” p 22, June/July
Radio / Television
“Survivors of Sexual Violence Find Empowerment Through Vt. Art Show,” NECN News, Jack Thurston, Aired: 5:45 PM EDT 16 Apr 2018.
PechaKucha TV, Vol. 14: Toni Lee Sangastiano. Production Date: 11/13/2014 - 6:00pm
Shelburne Museum: Museum Minutes, RETN, Aired: at 12:57 p.m. ET, 14 November, 2010 Shelburne Museum: Museum Minutes, RETN, Aired: at 12:57 p.m. ET, 14 November, 2010
“Step right up to see circus freaks”, WCAX News, Jack Thurston, Aired: 26 July 2010
“You Swallowed What?!,” Discovery Health Channel, Producer: Belinda Seaman, Beyond Productions, Released: 31 January, 2005 (voted best of Discovery)
“Open Up and Say AHHH!,” CNN Live Today, CNN Correspondent: Jeannie Mose, Aired: 11:45 a.m. ET, 3 September, 2002
“History’s Mysteries: Circus Freaks & Sideshows,” The History Channel, Released: 4 Dec., 2000
“Sideshow: Alive on the Inside,” The Discovery Channel, Producer: Image Entertainment,
Director: Lynn Dougherty, Narrator: Jason Alexander, Released: 21 September, 1999
“Coney Island,” Public Eye with Bryant Gumbel, WCBS Correspondent: Steve Hartmen,
Producer: Tom Forman, Editor: David Rubin, Aired 29 April, 1998
Website Publications
“Two Yale Exhibits Explore Culture and History of ‘Monstrosity,’” Zip06, Amy J. Barry, Correspondent, Published January 28, 2015 9 a.m
Mease, Steve. “President Donald J. Laackman Looks to the Future, Saying College is on the ‘Brink of Greatness,’” ReadMedia, October 22, 2014
“Artist Statement & Image Credits,” Tweet-Me-Up!, 2012.
“Bob ‘Hoff’ Hoffman’s Handcrafted Harmonica Cases At Artisphere”, The Huffington Post, DC, Around Town, First Posted: 15 November, 2011 11:01 AM ET
“Shrunken Head Banners,” Sideshow World, John Robinson
“BCA’s 30 Hours of Art (234)”, Seven Days Stuck in VT vlog, Eva Sollberger, Released: 10 August, 2012.
Hoff the Hamonica Case Man (188), Seven Days Stuck in VT vlog, Eva Sollberger,
Released: 18 August, 2010
Shelburne Museum YouTube Channel, “Toni-Lee Sangastiano Sideshow Banners for the Shelburne Museum,” Aired: 4 May 2010
Blogs
Noel Benedetti, “Toni-Lee Sangastiano, Featured Banner Artist,” heyrubecircus.com, Released: 13 August, 2010
PUBLICATIONS AS AUTHOR
“The Postmodern Sideshow and the Bakhtinian Dialogic.” XVI International Bakhtin Conference. Russian Literature & Arts (!m+Xأ_٤٥$مإف!n) Volume 4, 2018.
“Diary Entry.” Artist Catalog. Champlain College Publishing Initiative, April 2016
Toni-Lee Sangastiano. Sideshow: Duality and Reversal of a Rube’s Appetite, Double Dialogues refereed journal, Hunger Artist: Food & the Arts. Issue 15, 2011. First Posted: August, 2012
TEACHING EXPERIENCE
2019 Digital Media Specialist and Assistant Professor of the Practice, Department of Art and Art History, Georgetown University
2005–19 Professor of Graphic Design & Digital Media, Program Director, Champlain College, Burlington, VT
Classes taught: Design & Communication, Intro Typography, Advanced Art History Special Topics: Bookbinding, Graphic Design Capstone, Form & Color, Senior Portfolio, Ciao Italia (hybrid travel course), Foundations of Graphic Design I & II, Digital Publication
2005–Pres. Adjunct Professor: Fairleigh Dickinson University, NJ
Courses taught: History of Graphic Design & Illustration online (developed course content),
Painting I and II, Watercolor I and II, Introduction to Digital Photography, Pastels, Introduction to Digital Photography, Introduction to Digital Media
2007–13 Art Coordinator, Champlain College, Burlington, VT
2005–12 Facilitator, Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Online Division, Pittsburgh, PA
Courses taught: Color Theory for Print FND111, Fundamentals of Design FND112, Design Team Production G321, Drawing CC110, Perspective Drawing FND120, Illustration G330, Art Direction G311, Life Drawing G120
2005–06 Adjunct Professor: Community College of Vermont, University of Vermont
1998–2013 Freelance Graphic Designer
LECTURES/WORKSHOPS
2019 “The Postmodern Sideshow, the Circus, and the Politics of Media: Talking Back,” Circus and Sideshow
Culture, 2019 Popular Culture & American Culture Association Conference, Washington Marriott
Wardman Park, Washington D.C.
2018 Artist Antipanel Panel: What is the role of the artist in dark times?, CCM Sklyloft, Champlain College,
Burlington, VT
Congress Of Curious Peoples Opening Night 2018: 12Th Annual Sideshow Hall Of Fame, Panel of
Experts Nominee Presenter, Coney Island, Brooklyn, NY
2017 “The Postmodern Sideshow and the Bakhtinian Dialogic,” Bakhtin and cultural studies in the discourses of teaching and media, panelist, XVI International Bakhtin Conference: Bakhtin in the Post-Revolutionary Era, Shanghai, China; Fudan University, Shanghai, China
Artists’ Panel: When in Doubt, Why Not Ask the Oracles, Champlain College Art Gallery, Burlington, VT
2016 PechaKucha, Volume 22. Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT
Public Lecture: Toni Lee Sangastiano on the Ringling Brothers. Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT
2015 Calligraphy Basics Workshop, Saint John’s Bible Residency, Champlain College, Burlington, VT
2014 PechaKucha, Shelburne Museum, Shelburne, VT
Artist Lecture, Richmond University, Florence, Italy
2012 Champlain College, Burlington, VT
2010 Circus In America, Champlain College, Burlington, VT
2004 Firehouse Center for the Visual Arts, Burlington, VT