Today we’d like to introduce you to Paola Ward.
Hi Paola , it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story has been shaped by migration, curiosity, and the need to create. I was born in Colombia, in the Andes, and later moved to New York City, where I lived for 20 years. My path was not always centered on art. I worked in different environments, including scientific research, while continuing to develop my creative practice. Those experiences taught me discipline, observation, and the importance of continuing to learn and reinvent myself.
I earned my BA in Studio Art from Hunter College, and art became the way I could bring together my personal history, my experience as a migrant, and my connection to land and ancestral memory. My work has grown into a multidisciplinary practice that includes painting, textiles, printmaking, sculpture, installation, and community-based projects.
Today, I am based in Austin, Texas, where I work as an artist, curator, researcher, and community arts organizer. I am also pursuing a master’s degree in Arts Administration and Curatorial Studies. I have had opportunities to exhibit my work, develop curatorial projects, and collaborate with artists and cultural organizations. I also co-founded Lengua de Tigre, an arts organization that creates connections between artists in Austin and Latin America.
Looking back, my journey has not been a straight line, and I value that. Moving between countries, science and art, and different communities has shaped how I understand creativity. Today, my goal is not only to continue growing as an artist, but also to create opportunities for other artists and build spaces where art can connect people, cultures, and territories.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Migration has been one of the biggest challenges in my life. Moving from Colombia to the United States meant adapting to a new culture, language, and way of life while trying to build a future far from the place I knew as home. Like many immigrants, I had to work hard, take different kinds of jobs, and find opportunities while continuing my education and developing my creative voice.
Another challenge was finding my path as an artist. I spent years working in science and research while also pursuing art, and eventually I had to trust myself enough to make creativity a central part of my life. Starting again in Austin after living in New York City also meant rebuilding my artistic community and professional connections.
These experiences have deeply shaped my work. They taught me resilience, patience, and the importance of community. The challenges of migration, belonging, and starting over are now part of what I explore through my art. Instead of seeing my journey as a straight path, I see all these different experiences as connected , they have helped me understand who I am and what I want to contribute as an artist and community organizer.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a multidisciplinary artist, curator, and community arts organizer. My work moves between painting, textiles, printmaking, sculpture, installation, and public art. I focus on migration, ancestral memory, identity, and our relationship with land. My Colombian roots, my years living in New York City, and my life now in Austin have all shaped the way I see and create.
For me, art is not separate from everyday life. I am also a mother of four, and motherhood has deeply influenced the way I understand creativity, resilience, care, and time. I am constantly creating—sometimes in my home studio, sometimes through community projects, and sometimes simply through the experience of daily life. Creating is not only my profession; it is part of how I live and understand the world.
I am especially proud of building a practice that connects my personal story with larger conversations about migration, territory, memory, and belonging. I am also proud of my work as a curator and co-founder of Lengua de Tigre, where I help create opportunities and connections for artists and communities.
What sets me apart is the combination of experiences I bring to my work: I have been a scientist, an immigrant, a mother, an artist, a researcher, and a community organizer. These different parts of my life are not separate—they all come into the work. I believe creativity can happen anywhere, and I see art as a way to tell stories, preserve memory, build community, and create meaningful connections between people and places.
What would you say have been one of the most important lessons you’ve learned?
The most important lesson I have learned is not to quit and not to let other people determine my value. There will always be moments when someone does not understand your work, does not see your potential, or tells you no. I have learned that rejection does not define who I am or what I am capable of.
My journey through migration, motherhood, science, art, and building a creative career has taught me to keep moving forward, even when the path is uncertain. Sometimes progress is slow, and sometimes you have to create your own opportunities instead of waiting for someone to give you permission.
I have also learned to trust my own voice. Success is not only about recognition or what other people think of you. It is about staying connected to your purpose, continuing to learn, and believing that what you bring to the world has value. For me, persistence has been one of the most powerful forms of creativity.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/paolaandreaward
