BIOGRAPHY
Ana María Velasco is a multidisciplinary visual artist whose practice weaves painting, ceramics, drawing, immersive installation, and community-centered pedagogy to examine the interdependence of culture and living ecosystems. Approaching art as a regenerative act attuned to planetary rhythms, she engages contemporary ecological thought and posthumanist perspectives to position landscape not as backdrop, but as an active protagonist in which human and non-human forces coexist without hierarchy.
For over a decade, La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia has informed her artistic inquiry. Immersed in one of the planet’s most biodiverse and irreplaceable territories, Velasco encountered rituals and ceremonial practices that sustain balance between land, spirit, and community. The loom emerged as both structure and archetype—anatomical, topographical, and cosmological. Invisible threads connect rivers, mountains, animals, and human bodies; painting becomes a site for witnessing these entanglements within a unified visual field, where line, form, and color operate as connective tissue for memory and sacred trace.
Her compositions move between gestural abstraction and dreamlike figuration. A helicopter dissolves into a river; a mountain becomes a gathering. Celebration and conflict unfold within the same spatial continuum, where contradiction is sustained rather than resolved. Through layered surfaces, organic forms, and nuanced explorations of color and movement, Velasco renders perceptible what often remains unseen: migratory rhythms, atmospheric shifts, wind currents, and the fragile tensions between preservation and collapse. In translating these phenomena into painterly language, she invites a reconsideration of our sensory and ethical relationship to the natural world.
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Velasco develops a cohesive investigation into relational ecology and material agency.
Ana Maria holds an MFA from The School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University in Boston where she also received a certificate in Museum Studies. Her undergraduate degree is from La Universidad Javeriana and El Instituto Departamental de Bellas Artes in Cali, Colombia. She studied Tibetan Art for ten years at The New York Tibetan Art Studio. The contemplative and somatic disciplines of Indo-Tibetan Yoga and Buddha's teachings actively inform both her art studio practices and her educational initiatives.Some exhibitions include, The Dreamers at Sothebys Institute in NYC; Saundarya ARTBO Galeria Mmaison Bogota, Colombia; Rios Intermitentes: Encuentros Biennal in Matanzas,Cuba; Symbiosis curated by Beth Rudin The Woody at The Berkshire Botanical Garden; Ficciones Retinianas in El Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia Cali, Colombia; Procession of Angels for Radical Love and Unity by Maria Magdalena Campos Pons at Madison Square Park Conservancy in NYC; The World has a Heart at YAWA Center for Science, Art and Technology during COP 16 in Cali, Colombia; Awaken:Conjuring our tomorrow Salem State University Winfisky Gallery, Salem, MA; Interdependencia at The Colombian Consulate in NYC. She was invited by The Korean Fine Arts Association and Kate Oh Gallery to exhibit in Seoul, Korea; Her work is held in public collections such as the Harvard University Art Collection in Cambridge, MA, Bank of America in Boston MA, Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia Cali, and numerous private collections across the Americas and Europe. Committed to art as a catalyst for regeneration, Velasco founded Neem Foundation, a non profit that promotes art, yoga, and meditation as alternative for healing processes for people affected by violence and trauma. She continues to work with La Sierra Artist Residency and Caring for Colombia Foundations. She lives and works between Brooklyn, New York, Cali and La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta in Colombia.
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EDUCATION
MFA Master in Fine Arts.
The School of the Museum of Fine Arts and Tufts University. Boston, USA
2000
Tibetan Art Studies.
The New York Tibetan Art Studio. New York City, USA
2007-17
Certified Yoga Teacher. Yoga Alliance 800 hours training
Jivamukti, Om, Yoga4Cancer, Vajra Yoga New York City, USA
2003
Museum Studies. Tufts University. Boston, USA.
1999
Post Baccalaureate. School of The Museum of Fine Arts. Boston, USA
1998
Fine Arts. Instituto Departamental de Bellas Artes. Cali, Colombia
1995
BA Universidad Javeriana. Cali, Colombia
1994
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
¿Qué sabe el camarón del Río donde nadó toda su vida?
State Public Library Award. Cali, Colombia.
2026
Roshi’s Liberation Station: Harlem Homecoming Art Auction.
Back to the beginning, a fundraiser for the future. New York City,
2025
Cuerpas Desobedientes. Instituto Bellas Artes. Cali, Colombia.
2025
Saundarya MMaison Gallery. Bogota, Colombia.
2025
La Ofrenda Casa de Creación Inaugural Exhibition
La Sierra Artist Residency. Magdalena, Colombia.
2025
SCIART Symbiosis. COP 16. Gathering between Artists and Scientist in
order to create collaborations to address the climate crisis.
YAWA Center of Science, Art and Technology. Cali, Colombia.
2025
The Dreamers Sotheby’s Institute of Art. New York, New City, USA.
2023
Royal Nomad By Kick The Can. The Square. Palm Beach, USA.
2023
Symbiosis Curated by Beth Rudin DeWoody. BBG. Berkshires, USA.
2023
From The Heart of The World The Other Art Fair, New York City, USA.
2023
Here We Stand TW Fine Art Gallery. Palm Beach, USA.
2022
Arts of Compassion. Nalanda Institute. Tibet House. New York City, USA
2022
Art for Tibet: 10 Year Anniversary Fundraiser Curated by: Ai Weiwi,
Robert Thurman, Pema Yoko. Nowhere Gallery. New York City, USA.
2022
What if Art Dreamt Nature? L.A.B. (Latin Art Bridges). Lima, Peru.
2022
Our Common Ground Public Art at The Square. Palm Beach, USA.
2022
Naturaleza Muerta. The Other Art Fair. New York City, USA.
2021
Awaken: Conjuring our tomorrow. Salem University. Salem, USA.
2020
Awaken: Conjuring our tomorrow. Salem University. Salem, USA.
2020
Ríos Intermitentes. The XIII Havana Art Biennale. Matanzas, Cuba.
2019
Inaugural Exhibition. Oh Gallery. Damyang, South Korea.
2019
Homecoming. Oh Gallery. Seoul, South Korea.
2019
Around Us. Kate Oh Gallery, New York City, USA.
2018
Art for Tibet. Fundraiser. Tibet House. New York City, USA.
2018
Interdependence. Colombian General Consulate. New York City, USA.
2017
Open question. 106 Green Street Gallery. New York City, USA.
2017
Art for Tibet Fundraiser Tibet House, New York City, USA.
2017
New Voices. Active Space Gallery. New York City, USA.
2014
Divine Intersections. Iona College. New York City, USA.
2013
Poética del Espacio. La Casa de Arte Contemporáneo. Cali, Colombia.
2012
Midnight Blooming. GASP Gallery. Boston, USA.
2008
The Dynamics of belonging. GASP Gallery . Boston, USA.
2008
Fung Wa. Howard Yezerski Gallery. Boston, USA.
2007
Anonymous Drawing. Bluetenwiss, Berlin, Germany.
2006-7
Antología Premios Nacionales. Museo La Tertulia. Cali, Colombia.
2002
Ficciones Retinianas. Museo La Tertulia. Cali, Colombia.
2001
Fixation. Boston Psychoanalytic Institute and Society. Boston, USA.
2000
The Can. Garcon Gallery. Berlin, Germany.
2000
Allien: Art from and About Elsewhere. Green Street Gallery. Boston, USA.
2000
COLLECTIONS
Harvard University Art Collection. Cambridge.USA
Bank of America. Boston, USA
Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia. Cali, Colombia
Public Art Piece The Square Palm Beach, USA
Collection Jean Pigozzi. Isla Simca. Panama
Collection Gigi Maquinay. New York City, USA
Alchemy Art Station. Boston, MA, USA
Biblioteca Departamental. Cali, Colombia
TEACHING, ARTIST RESIDENCIES AND PROJECTS
La Sierra Artist Residency.
Artist in residency and teacher. Magdalena, Colombia
Caring for The Heart of The World. Made illustrations for first and second edition
of children’s eco coloring book “Caring for the heart of the world”. Developed and
implemented art workshops to teach children from villages surrounding La Sierra
Nevada de Santa Marta. Emphasis placed in socializing children on the worldview
of the indigenous communities surrounding their villages, animal rights, recycling, trash management and clean water.
Mochilas and Patterns. Made murals with kids from Arhuaco Community of
Kutunsama in La Sierra Nevada de Santa Marta. The murals inspired by the design
of the “Mochilas” reflect their beliefs and customs depicting rivers, mountains and animals. Encoded in these patterns is the worldview that when we walk in harmony with all of nature, our path is opened, and so is the path for all humanity.
2018-25
Moving through Art. Meditation & Yoga Teacher. Jivamukti Yoga School,
Garrison Institue, Tibet House, Om Yoga Center, Go Yoga, Yoga4Cancer,
Greenhouse Holistic, The Three Jewels (NYC); Yoga Studio Colombia, Gitana del
Mar, La Sierra Artist Residency, Koralia Beach Resort, Yoga Tayrona, Yoguis
(Bogota); Yogaland (Santa Marta); Vive Yoga, Casa Vida, Happy Yoga
(Colombia), Kaladanda, Be Yoga (Argentina); Buen Karma (Nicaragua); Cuesta
Serena Huaraz (Peru); Rios Intermitentes (Cuba).
2003-25
Moving through Art. Meditation & Yoga Teacher. Jivamukti Yoga School,
Garrison Institue, Tibet House, Om Yoga Center, Go Yoga, Yoga4Cancer,
Greenhouse Holistic, The Three Jewels (NYC); Yoga Studio Colombia, Gitana del
Mar, La Sierra Artist Residency, Koralia Beach Resort, Yoga Tayrona, Yoguis
(Bogota); Yogaland (Santa Marta); Vive Yoga, Casa Vida, Happy Yoga
(Colombia), Kaladanda, Be Yoga (Argentina); Buen Karma (Nicaragua); Cuesta
Serena Huaraz (Peru); Rios Intermitentes (Cuba).
2003-25
Rios Intermitentes. Encuentros. Painting Workshop.
Escuela Provincial de Bellas Artes Roberto Diago. Matanzas, Cuba
2024
New Wave Artist Residency. Artist Resident & teacher. Our Common Ground Painting Workshop. Palm Beach, USA.
2022
Manic Breathing. Illustrations El Espectador. Bogota, Colombia.
2019-22
Neem Foundation. Founder, president and teacher. Bogota, Colombia Neem a non-profit organization 501(c) that promotes art, yoga and meditation as alternative therapies for healing and forgiveness among people affected by violence and trauma. Envisioned and implemented programs for ex-combatants ad victims of the armed conflict in Colombia through existing programs at La Fundación para la reconciliación, Tecnovo, CIREC, Colombia herida and Tecnovo.
2003-25
Rubin Museum of Himalayan Art. Museum Educator. New York, NY.
2007
The New York Tibetan Art Studio. Drawing teacher. Brooklyn, NY.
2007-10
School of The Museum of Fine Arts. Painting teacher. Boston, MA.
1997
New Museum of Contemporary Art. Curatorial intern. New York, NY.
1999