Joan Of Arts

I was told to be quiet. I chose to paint at 180cm instead. 🎨✊

My name is JOA. I am a white woman, but my heart and my history were forged in the Congolese diaspora. Growing up in that world, I didn't just see resilience; I lived it. I saw how strength is carried, how voices are suppressed, and how a woman’s competence is often viewed as a "threat."

That is why my work is monumental. That is why I use reclaimed industrial cloth. I’m not interested in "pretty" or "polite" art. I am interested in Radical Dignity.

My series, The Sovereign Gaze, is a tribute to the power I witnessed in the Congo and the strength I’ve had to find within myself. When I paint these faces, I am painting a refusal to shrink. I am painting the moment we realize we can do anything a man can—and we stop apologizing for it.

My daughter once told me she wanted to "paint the world with flowers." I’ve realized those flowers aren't just decorations; they are the armor of the Savage Daughter.

To the world that wants us to lower our voices? "Whats Up!"—we aren't going anywhere.

And Still, I Rise.

Exhibitions: Any time your work has been shown in public—even if it was a small local cafe, a community center, or a popup.

Format: [Year] | [Exhibition Title] | [Venue Name] | [City, Country]

Competitions & Open Calls: Since you just applied for Arts to Hearts, you can list that!

Entry: 2026 | Submitting Artist, Art & Woman Edition Three | Arts to Hearts Project (International).

Humanitarian Milestones: This is your "X-factor." If you organized an art workshop in Ecuador or worked on a project in Congo, list it as a Social Practice Event.

Example: 2024 | Art & Dignity Workshop | [Organization Name] | [Location].

Media & Press: If you’ve ever been interviewed for a blog, a local newspaper, or even a podcast about your TCK journey.

Private Collections: If someone has already bought one of your pieces, you can list "Private Collection, [City, Country]." This shows new buyers that you are already "vetted" by other collectors.