Mayor's Gallery - October 2024: Cassandra Nguyen Musto’s “Understory”

Sacramento (Oct. 4, 2024) - The Mayor’s Gallery features “Understory” by Cassandra Nguyen Musto for the month of October.  

The "Understory" collection celebrates the subtle yet profound beauty of Sacramento's riparian forests, showcasing the native flora and fauna that endure despite the challenges these ecosystems face. Cassandra weaves scenes of fluttering butterflies, vibrant flowers, rich berries, curious birds, and calming green vines and brambles to evoke themes of community, healing, resilience, hope, transformation, and clarity.

Raised in Southern California's Little Saigon, Cassandra obtained a Bachelor of Science in Landscape Architecture with a minor in Fine Arts from Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. She now resides in the Sacramento area, where she creates art using watercolor and mixed media.

Growing up in the concrete environment of Orange County, Cassandra only began to explore California's natural beauty when she attended San Luis Obispo for her undergraduate studies. There, she developed a deep appreciation for the state’s native plants, sparking a lifelong passion. California's distinct wild areas, native plants and wildlife, along with her work as a restoration ecologist and landscape architect with the California Department of Water Resources, continue to be her creative inspiration.

When she isn’t monitoring levee systems during the day, she can be found creating her art in Studio 2 at ARTHOUSE Gallery & Studios in the historic R Street corridor in Sacramento. 

You can see more of Cassandra’s work here on her website www.nguyenmusto.com and on Instagram @nguyenmusto.artworks.