Contessa Trujillo was born and raised in Taos, New Mexico. Being raised by creative parents and with exposure to the local art scene, Contessa, decided to pursue higher education in the art field. Contessa graduated from Colorado College in May 2005 with a Bachelor of Arts In Studio Art. Her body of work is one that questions her diverse ethnic background and her unpredictable upbringings. The traditions and "cuentos" (stories) told by her grandparents of Spanish, Indigenous Mexican and Native American descent evoke memories, and a sense of nostalgia which is seen in her work. These stories which have become engraved in her memories, sometimes, become physical engravings in paintings. Her aesthetics are inspired by movement, color,light and form.

Contessa currently lives and works in San Francsco, California.