Kathleen Crocetti

Public Artist · Community Arts Organizer · Nonprofit Executive Director

240 Maple Ave., Watsonville, CA 95076 · (831) 724-5981 · crocetti@rocketmail.com

www.kathleencrocetti.com • www.communityartsempowerment.org

Profile

Kathleen Crocetti is an award-winning public artist, educator, and community organizer whose work transforms public spaces through mosaic, mural, and sculptural installations. As founder and Executive Director of Community Arts & Empowerment (CAE), she completed the landmark Un Watsonville Brillante project in 2025 — a multi-phase permanent mosaic mural on the Watsonville Civic Parking Garage that earned national recognition from mosaic arts, tile, and public works organizations, and the Helen Putnam Award from the California League of Cities. She has spent three decades building permanent public art across the Central Coast of California, with current large-scale commissions underway in Watsonville and Santa Cruz. Her practice integrates cultural equity, community engagement, and civic placemaking.

Leadership

2018–Present Founder & Executive Director — Community Arts & Empowerment, Watsonville, CA

Nonprofit producing permanent community mosaic and mural installations. Directs all programming, grant-writing, partnerships, and operations. Runs the Muzzio Mosaic Arts Center.

Ongoing Artistic Director — Watsonville Brillante (2019-2025)

Multi-phase permanent mosaic mural on the Watsonville Civic Parking Garage. Completed 2025. Recipient of the Helen Putnam Award (California League of Cities) and multiple national honors.

Career Public School Art Teacher & Artist in Residence, Santa Cruz County, CA

Current Projects (2025–2026)

In Progress: Bethany Curve Bridge — 34 26” x 8’ mosaic panels, Santa Cruz, CA
In Progress: Ramsay Park — Nine 5′ diameter sidewalk medallions & 10′ × 30′ mosaic mural, Watsonville, CA
In Progress: Watsonville Civic Plaza — Four 8–9′ tall sculptures, Watsonville, CA

Selected Recent Public Art (2019–2025)

2025 Watsonville Brillante — COMPLETED, Watsonville Civic Parking Garage, Watsonville, CA
2025 People of the Neighborhood; Emile Norman Memorial Fountain
2024 Farm Worker Project; Angel Wings, Watsonville Golf Course; Capitola Wharf Donor Wall
2024 Memorial Park Medallions; Bienestar Housing Seat Wall, Watsonville / Capitola, CA
2023 Tabasa Garden Project (Eden Housing); Dancing Waters, River Front Garage
2022 COVID-19 Memorial; PVPSA Mural; Flower Grower (Brillante Phase 5), Watsonville, CA
2021 Hermanita (Brillante Phases 3–4); Allison Endert Memorial Bench; Chinatown Dragon Gate
2020 En El Cielo & Mayan Warrior (Brillante); Heart of the Pajaro Valley Mosaic
2019 Community Readers, Public Library Floor Mosaic, Watsonville, CA

Selected Earlier Public Art

2010–18 San Lorenzo River Bridges (Water St., Soquel Ave., Laurel St.) Mosaics, river & park installations, Santa Cruz, CA
2014–17 Tannery Campus sculptural installations; Homeless Services Center murals; staircase mosaics, Santa Cruz, CA
2010 “Free Gaza Mural,” UN Building, Gaza City
1995–09 First Night interactive installations (Monterey & Santa Cruz); school and community murals

Awards & Recognition — Selected

2026 Best in Show — Mosaic Architectural and Site Specific International (Contemporary Mosaic Artists)
2025 Best Site Specific Installation — Mosaic Arts International (Society of American Mosaic Artists)
2025 Helen Putnam Award — California League of Cities (Watsonville Brillante)
2025 NTCA Five-Star Project of the Year; APWA Monterey Bay Overall Project of the Year; CA State Honor
2023 Best in Show — Mosaic Arts International (Society of American Mosaic Artists)
2022–24 BAC Craft Award, Best Tile/Mosaic Project; Top 5 Public Art Places in Santa Cruz County
2019–20 Best Community Project & Juried Exhibition Award — Mosaic Arts International
2017 Rydell Fellow, Santa Cruz Community Foundation
2013 Innovation Award, Santa Cruz Education Foundation
2010 Officer Jim Howes Community Service Award (City of Santa Cruz); Gail Rich Award (Arts Council)
2009 California Middle School Art Educator of the Year, CAEA
2006 Northern California Distinguished Art Teacher of the Year, CAEA

Selected One- and Two-Person Exhibitions

2026 Solo Exhibition, Carmel Art Association, Carmel, CA
2017 “Dashes and Dots”, Michelangelo Gallery, Santa Cruz, CA
2014 “Luminous Color”, Shimo Gallery, Sacramento; Felix Kulpa Gallery, Santa Cruz; Carmel Art Association
2012 “California Luminescence”, Santa Barbara Botanic Gardens, Santa Barbara, CA
2010 “Un-Wearable”, Cabrillo College Gallery, Aptos, CA
2008 “Sticks and Stones”, Lauryn Taylor Gallery, Carmel, CA
2007 Infestation, Carl Cherry Foundation, Carmel, CA
2004 Gallery Showcase Artist, Carmel Art Association
2000 “An Inordinate Fondness for Insects”, Benicia Public Library, Benicia, CA
2000 “Longings” Installation, Carmel Art Association, Carmel, CA
1999 “Curious Collection”, Carmel Art Association, Carmel, CA
1998 “Using Resources”, CSU Stanislaus, Turlock, CA
1997 “Light & Form”, Chemeketa Community College, Salem, OR
1996 “MFA: A Transformative Process”, Wood Gallery, Vermont College, VT; Pacific Grove Art Center, CA
1995 “People Without Voices” World AIDS Day Installation, Seaside, CA
1994 “Silenced”, Carmel Art Association, Carmel, CA
1992 “Glass Constructions”, Pacific Grove Art Center, Pacific Grove, CA
1990 “Introduction Show”, Hudson-Northcross Gallery, Medford, OR
1990 “Crocetti & Long”, Carmel Art Association, Carmel, CA
1988 “Colburn & Crocetti”, Fort Ord Fine Arts Gallery, Fort Ord, CA
1984 “Senior Exhibition”, Dorothy Van Winkle Memorial Gallery, UMW, VA

References

Tamara Vides, Asst. City Manager, City of Watsonville · (831) 768-3043 · tamara.vides@cityofwatsonville.org
Kathy DeWild, Arts Program Coordinator, Santa Cruz County Parks · kathy.dewild@santacruzcounty.us
Kathryn Mintz, Development Manager, City of Santa Cruz · (831) 420-5146 · kmintz@cityofsantacruz.com