Today we’d like to introduce you to Catalina Currea.
Hi Catalina, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
I studied art in Bogotá, Colombia, at Escuela de Artes y Letras for two years, but at 19 I made one of the biggest decisions of my life: leaving everything behind and migrating alone to Texas. I first arrived in Houston, and for my first four years in the U.S. I worked in sales — far from the creative path I always imagined for myself.
In 2021, after feeling disconnected from the part of me that had always been my anchor, I decided to return to art. I had no plan B, no roadmap, and no guarantees — just a deep certainty that this was the life I was meant to build. I jumped in fully, trusting my voice, my story, and my ability to create something from nothing.
Since then, I’ve grown my career as a full-time artist and muralist in Dallas, painting for local businesses, schools, and community spaces, exhibiting my work, and building a brand rooted in nature, migration, healing, and transformation. My work explores the journeys we take — physically, emotionally, and spiritually — and how those experiences shape who we become.
Art has allowed me to reconnect with myself, honor my roots, and create a life that feels aligned with who I truly am. It’s been a path built with courage, vulnerability, and a lot of faith, and I’m proud of how far this dream has carried me.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
The road definitely hasn’t been smooth. One of my biggest challenges has been being far away from my family — everyone I love is in Colombia, and building a life alone in a new country has required a lot of strength and emotional resilience.
Another major obstacle was the language. When I first arrived, I couldn’t even order a glass of water in English at a restaurant. Learning the language while working full-time and trying to adapt to a completely different system pushed me out of every comfort zone I had.
But one of the deepest challenges was internal: breaking free from the beliefs I grew up with — the idea that being an artist wasn’t a “real” or sustainable path. For years, I carried the fear that living from my art wasn’t possible. Overcoming that mindset, trusting my voice, and allowing myself to pursue my passion without apology has been one of the hardest and most transformative parts of my journey.
These obstacles shaped me. They taught me perseverance, courage, and the power of rewriting my own story — one brushstroke at a time.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I’m a visual artist and muralist based in Dallas, and my work focuses on themes of nature, migration, transformation, and healing. I create both large-scale murals for businesses and community spaces, as well as fine art paintings that explore emotional landscapes and personal journeys.
People often recognize my work by the way I blend realism with contemporary, fluid backgrounds and by my use of color to evoke calm, presence, and connection. Many of my pieces include symbolic elements—like monarch butterflies, whales, jaguars, and trees—that represent resilience, movement, and the many “homes” we carry within us.
As a muralist, I’m proud to have painted for brands such as Gas 76, Norma’s Café, Sweetgreen, and other local businesses. I’ve completed murals as large as 2,600 sq ft—something I never imagined growing up in Bogotá, being my height, and coming from the place I come from. Learning to operate boom lifts and tackle massive walls has been one of the most empowering parts of my journey, a reminder of how far courage and persistence can take you.
My art has also been featured in galleries and fairs, and I’m continually developing collections that explore identity, migration, and spiritual transformation.
What sets me apart is the intention behind everything I create. My work is deeply rooted in my immigrant story, my connection to nature, and my belief in turning vulnerability into art. I’m proud of building a career from scratch, connecting with communities through color, and creating pieces that people describe as peaceful, emotional, and grounding.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The qualities that have been most important to my success are my persistence, my resilience, and my faith in God. Being an immigrant and building a career in the arts hasn’t been easy, but my ability to keep going—especially during uncertain moments—has shaped everything I’ve achieved.
Persistence keeps me moving forward, resilience helps me rise after every setback, and my faith gives me strength, guidance, and a sense of purpose. Together, these qualities have allowed me to build a life and a career that once felt impossible.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.artbycatalinacurrea.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artbycatalinacurrea?igsh=Zjk2azJ3dXgyeWhl&utm_source=qr
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/share/1ACPR6XgAH/?mibextid=wwXIfr
Image Credits
For my profile picture, to the photographer @d9photos
