MICRO-BIO
Rita is an artist who finds horror in trying to define her existence with one sentence. (SEE: Artist Statement & BIO page.)
RESUME
EDUCATION
2021 B.S. Psychology, summa cum laude, Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
2019 A.A.F.A. Visual Arts, with Honors, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ
2015 A.S. with Honors, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ
RECENT AWARDS (<5 years)
2025-26 Fellow, United Nations S.D.G. Open Pedagogy
2024 Finalist, Design Within Reach Annual Worldwide Champagne Chair Contest, NYC, NY
2023 Finalist, Design Within Reach Annual Worldwide Champagne Chair Contest, NYC, NY
2022 Carmody Foundation Grant, Art for Good, Phoenix, AZ
2022 Best in Show 3-D (Professional Category), Spring Emerging Artists Exhibition, Yavapai College
2021 Best in Show 3-D (Professional Category), Fall Emerging Artists Exhibition, Yavapai College
2021 Best in Show 3-D (Professional Category), Spring Emerging Artists Exhibition, Yavapai College
RECENT EXHIBITIONS (<5 years)
2025
How is the Weather? Art & Climate Change, Orange County Center for Contemporary Arts, Santa Ana, CA (Juror: Shana Nys Dambrot)
Traveling Textures, Small Works Fundraiser for Yavapai College Visual Arts, Sedona, Verde Valley, and Prescott, AZ
Yuma Art Symposium Exhibition, Yuma Art Center, Yuma, AZ
Peace Summit, hosted by The Respect Campaign and The Justice Institute, Yavapai College
Yavapai College Faculty Exhibit, Prescott Gallery, Prescott, AZ
2024
Yavapai College Faculty Exhibit, Prescott Gallery, Prescott, AZ
Little Things Silent Auction, Patty McMullen-Mikles Gallery, Verde Valley, AZ
2023
Prescott Artists Studio Tour, Welded Metal Sculpture (Instructor), Yavapai College, AZ
Yavapai College Faculty Exhibit, Prescott Gallery, Prescott, AZ
JOY, Sculpture Tucson Sculpture Garden, Tucson, AZ (Juror: Kim Boganey)
YC at MAG, Mountain Artists Guild, Prescott AZ
AAUW Women’s Forum Silent Auction, Prescott, AZ
2022
JOY, Sculpture Tucson Sculpture Garden, Tucson, AZ (Juror: Kim Boganey)
Yavapai College Faculty Exhibit, Prescott Gallery, Prescott, AZ
Carmody Foundation ‘Art for Good,’ Sisáo Gallery, Phoenix, AZ
Summer Garden Party, Prescott Valley Public Library, Prescott Valley, AZ
Solo Exhibition (6 months), Founding Fathers Collective, Prescott, AZ
Spring Emerging Artists Exhibition, Prescott Gallery, Yavapai College, Prescott AZ (Juror: Matagi Sorensen)
Shades of Black, Mountain Artists Guild Prescott AZ (Juror: Bryan Robertson)
From Start to Finish: Journeys in 3D, Mountain Artists Guild Prescott AZ (Juror: Michael Werner)
The Cactus Collective 75th Anniversary Exhibit, Scottsdale Fashion Square, Scottsdale AZ
2021
Emerging Artists Exhibition, Prescott Gallery, Yavapai College, Prescott AZ (Juror: Tristyn Bustamante)
Solo Exhibition, The Space Between, Mountain Artists Guild, Prescott AZ
Emerging Artists Exhibition, Prescott Gallery, Yavapai College, Prescott AZ (Juror: Ellen Greenblum)
WORK/PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE (<5 years)
2021-Present
Instructor of Record, Sculpture Dept. Yavapai College, Prescott AZ
ART 182: Sculpture: Welded Metal I, ART 183: Sculpture: Welded Metal II, ART 283: Advanced Projects in Welded Sculpture
2025
Fellow, United Nations S.D.G. Open Pedagogy (2025-2026)
Presenter, Peace Summit hosted by The Respect Campaign and The Justice Institute, Yavapai College
Sculpture Workshop Instructor for Experience the Arts, “Upcycle-Recycle,” Yavapai College
Artist Spotlight, Design Within Reach, Champagne Chair Contest
2024
Instructor of Record, Visual Arts, Yavapai College, Prescott, AZ
ART 144 Furniture & Woodworking I. ART 145 Furniture & Woodworking II, ART 248 Advanced Projects in Woodworking
Artist Talk, YC Prescott Gallery
Juror, Realism to Abstraction, Mountain Artists Guild, Prescott, AZ
Sculpture Workshop Instructor for Experience the Arts, “Upcycle-Recycle,” Yavapai College
2023
Artist Talk, YC Prescott Gallery
Juror, Young Artists Showcase, Prescott Y.C. Gallery, AZ
RECENT PRESS (<5 years)
The Prescott Courier-Across the Street, 5/1/25 https://www.dcourier.com/news/q-a-with-rita-toikka/article_3e5db395-375f-43c6-bee7-91e051027c3e.html
Signals AZ, 4/17/25 https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/prescott-sculptor-examines-the-weight-of-free-speech/
The Prescott Times, 4/14/25 https://theprescotttimes.com/arts_and_entertainment/yavapai-college-faculty-art-exhibit-challenges-free-speech-and-social-consciousness/article_fac0dd6a-c4f8-4f55-a13d-9c5b455c750f.html
Guest, The Qreative Life Podcast with Amanda Quaraishi, Season 3 Ep. 19 https://www.amandaquraishi.com/category/the-qreative-life-podcast/
5enses Magazine, March 2025 https://www.5ensesmag.com/article/peace-is-a-skill-set
Signals AZ, 3/9/25 https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/yavapai-college-peace-summit-announces-schedule/
The Prescott Times, 3/6/25 https://theprescotttimes.com/arts_and_entertainment/yavapai-college-to-host-2025-peace-summit-a-two-day-exploration-of-unity-dialogue-and/article_d08c904c-fabb-11ef-bc5b-7b84fa73249e.html
Design Within Reach IG, Artist Spotlight, Champagne Chair Contest Promotion, 12/27/24 https://www.instagram.com/p/DEFYkOqRpvv/?img_index=6
The Prescott Courier-Across the Street, 8/22/24 https://www.dcourier.com/news/yc-faculty-art-show-raises-awareness-about-human-trafficking/article_9cc579da-5f2b-11ef-8fef-330dc7835bb7.html
Signals AZ, 8/6/24 https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/art-for-the-unseen-at-yavapai-college/
Sedona.biz, 8/6/24 https://sedona.biz/art-for-the-unseen/
Yavapai College News, 8/3/24 https://www.yc.edu/v6/news/2024/08/humans.html
Signals AZ, 3/10/23 https://www.signalsaz.com/articles/yc-prescott-art-gallery-celebrates-local-teen-artists/
The Prescott Times 7/31/24 https://theprescotttimes.com/news/yavapai-college-art-faculty-exhibition-to-feature-interactive-installation-raising-awareness-on-human-trafficking/article_deeb0816-4eb4-11ef-85da-df171676e7a3.html
The Daily Courier, 7/30/24 https://www.dcourier.com/news/yc-faculty-art-show-raises-awareness-about-human-trafficking/article_9cc579da-5f2b-11ef-8fef-330dc7835bb7.html
Guest, KKLD Live 9/16/23
Sculpture Tucson website, Dec-May 2023 https://www.sculpturetucson.org/upcoming
Guest, KQNA Live Talk of the Town with Chuck Roberts, 4/20/23
Scottsdale Public Art website, 3/9/22 https://scottsdalepublicart.org/2022/03/09/the-cactus-collective/
Scottsdale Fashion Square website, February-March 2022 https://www.fashionsquare.com/CactusCollective
Prescott Daily Courier, 10/24/21
NEWEST PUBLIC WORKS (<5 years)
Sculpture Garden, Yavapai College Foundation, Clarkdale Campus, “The Summoning” (2026)
MORE…MUSIC/FILM
2023 Director of Marketing, Prescott Film Festival
2023 Actor, Suburban Kid, Dir: Nick Ebeling
2022 Special Events Director, Prescott Film Festival
2021 Filmmaker, The Godfather Interviews, short film
2018-2022 Member, Yavapai College Visual Arts Club
2016-2022 Official Screener, Prescott Film Festival
2014, 2019 Marketing Production Assistant, Prescott Film Festival
2008 Soundtrack and Song Composer for the short film (IMBD), Time, Dir: Andrea Melton
2007 Myself, Music Video Ugly, by Modicum, Camel Cigarettes
2005 Soundtrack (credit: Modicum) for the short film Monster in my Pants, Dir: Andrea Maxwell
2004-2007 Independent Art Department Production Assistant: worked with multiple companies on national commercials
1998-2007 Recording Artist/Musician, Modicum (Writer, Singer, Guitar Player)
1998 Myself, Music Video About You, by The Royales, Dir: Edward Donato
1996-2007 Actor/Model (separate resume)/Artist