My life and art career have been dedicated to social, racial, and environmental justice. The ‘Endangered body of work’ was begun over a decade ago and it unites the concepts of human diversity and the biodiversity of nature. Mother Earth and Mother Nature are also often used metaphorically for women, and those who identify as women, since many find themselves in situations of endangerment globally. A decade ago there were over 40,000 endangered species of wildlife and plant life and now the number is over a million, including humanity. With the planet suffering from climate change, deforestation, overfishing, pollution, and poaching we must remedy what we have created through global partnership. I try not to sensationalize or be confrontational because I want the viewer to internalize, reflect, and see the face of a world that we have painted. Within the work there is urgency but also an element of hope.

Castonguay has earned BA, BFA, and MFA degrees in Painting and Drawing. The paintings have been exhibited internationally and have won First Place Awards in juried International and National Art Competitions and Figure Painting Competitions with the jurors being Curators from the Whitney Museum of American Art, the Folk Art Museum of NYC, and the New York Academy of Art.