Food is Justice: Stevie Shao

Stevie Shao

Artist Bio:

Seattle born-and-raised artist and muralist Stevie Shao (@stepfrae) works to capture the energy of the natural world and the mysticism of earthly experience through large-scale site-specific murals, paintings and lively illustrative work. Shao iterates the bond all creatures share that forms a framework for significance in our greater story. She has worked with a variety of freelance clients, including REI, Outdoor Research, Nordstrom, Google, and Sub Pop Records, shown with galleries around the world, and painted vibrant large-scale murals in cities across the United States. She is passionate about local causes related to environmental stewardship, racial justice and preserving historic community roots.

Artist Statement:

“Food is not just sustenance; it is a fundamental right and a powerful vehicle for justice. In Washington and around the world, food is deeply tied to culture, identity, and community. For many, access to healthy, culturally affirming, and nutritious food is not a given. This inequality is rooted in systems of power, labor exploitation, and historical injustice that have disproportionately impacted communities of color, immigrants, and other marginalized populations. Food is justice because it is a shared resource. We can create opportunities for everyone by advocating and participating in policies and systems that recognize food is a human right. Sharing food and centering cultural diversity is a collective liberation. As such, I’m excited to create work for January’s theme ‘Food is Justice’ to represent these ideals through the work of Northwest Harvest.”

#ArtistsForFoodJustice: Twelve Washington artists from Black, Indigenous, People of Color (BIPOC) communities and marginalized identities interpret our monthly Meaning of Food themes through original digital artwork, premiering on the first day of each month. Learn more about this series and the artists here.