Michael Santiago (b. 1980) is a visual storyteller based between New York and Oakland, CA. Michael received his B.F.A. of San Francisco Art Institute, and is currently a graduate student at S.I. Newhouse School of Public Communications at Syracuse University. His work focuses on issues concerning people of color and their communities; ranging from issues surrounding obesity, cancer, race and identity, family relationships, healthy eating, youth empowerment and more. He is the recipient of the 2015 Alexia Foundation student grant for his project "Stolen Land, Stolen Future" a body of work focusing on Black farmers of California. His project “250” a work revolving the life of a man’s struggle with obesity won the 2014 Forward Thinking Museum 1st quarter photography competition and his projects "A Promise"and "Michael the Veteran" were selected as juried winners for Morpholio Projects Future Voices. He was also invited to attend the 2015 New York Times portfolio review and this Fall will be attending the Eddie Adams Workshop XXVIII and most recently an Award of Excellence for Portfolio from the 70th College Photographers of the Year Awards
