Joana Vilela

Joana Vilela is a young Portuguese Contemporary Artist whose inspiration is fuelled by intriguing narratives, catching her curious mind’s attention to graciously depict compelling stories and whimsical characters, enthralling the viewer into a buoyant world.
Joana currently resides in Portugal and has completed her BFA at the Ontario College of Art and Design University, majoring in Drawing and Painting and minoring in Expanded Animation. Joana finished with Distinction, with a Honorable Mention in Integrated Media, and with the Anne Adler Kagan Drawing and Painting Award. Joana has participated in 16 Art Exhibitions around North America and Europe, selected screenings (one of which was at the NFB in Toronto) and a symposium appearance in a Conference regarding the American Synesthesia Association. She created covers of books and magazines in Switzerland (3) and Croatia (1), and received two awards and a scholarship at OCAD University. Even though Joana continues to be passionate for working on paintings and illustrations, she continues to have the urge to see them in motion, thus leading her to continue exploring 2-dimensional animation after studying at the Vancouver Institute of Media Arts in Canada.