Castillo is a native of Los Angeles, where she lives, works and teaches. She earned a B.A. in art education, with an emphasis in drawing and painting, from California State University, Fullerton, and an M.F.A. in sculpture from Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA.
Recent exhibitions include: SUR: Biennial, Skirball Cultural Center, Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery, California African American Museum, Watts Towers Arts Center, Ontario Museum of History and Art, and MACLA in San Jose, CA. She has also collaborated with sculptural assemblage artist John Outterbridge on several installations in Los Angeles. Castillo is a recipient of the City of Los Angeles Fellowship as well as the Visions from the New California Award. Castillo was exhibited under the VAN exhibition residency program at MACLA/Movimiento de Arte y Cultura Latino Americana.