About
- Katya Vaz (b. 1999 Moscow, Russia) is a multidisciplinary artist based in New Orleans, Louisiana. Her artistic practice explores how emotional connections shape our perception of physical spaces, often depicting them through evocative imagery that feels like a glimpse into someone’s memories.
Drawing inspiration from memories tied to place, Vaz explores the emotional and physical connection between culture and the environment that cultivated it, and how they, in turn, shaped us. By examining the tension between the natural and the built environment, the work investigates ideas of living with instability and transformation principally through processes of degradation and accretion, as well as others rooted in natural principles, such as corrosion, drawing, heat, and submersion. Drawing remains at the core of Vaz’s practice. Through these methods, Vaz reflects on the iterative and interconnected quality of the ecological systems while creating works that remain open to expansion and change over time.
These ideas take form through installations that assemble various material explorations in dialogue with one another as well as with the viewer. The work considers the environment not as a static backdrop but as an evolving system shaped by continuous interaction. This multiplicity mirrors the evolving relationship between landscapes and cultural systems, suggesting that nothing exists in isolation but rather as part of a dynamic and interconnected whole.
These ideas take form through installations that assemble various material explorations in dialogue with one another as well as with the viewer. The work considers the environment not as a static backdrop but as an evolving system shaped by continuous interaction. This multiplicity mirrors the evolving relationship between landscapes and cultural systems, suggesting that nothing exists in isolation but rather as part of a dynamic and interconnected whole.
EDUCATION
2021
Loyola University New Orleans
Bachelor of Design, Graphic Design
2017
New Orleans Center for Creative Arts
Certificate of Artistry
Portfolio - Français
CONTACT
katyavaz124@gmail.com
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2026
Forthcoming – “La goutte qui déborde du vase”
Fondation des États-Unis, Paris, France
“Un certain regard”
George Marshall Center - Hôtel de Talleyrand (US Embassy), Paris, France
2024
“Go I know not where”
Good Children Gallery, New Orleans, LA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026
Forthcoming – “Inner Landscapes”
Fondation des États-Unis, Paris, France
“Her Verses Unbound”
Fondation des États-Unis, Paris, France
2025
“Winter Liberty”
Fondation des États-Unis, Paris, France
“Survey #25”
SHED Projects, Cleveland, OH
“Our Point in Space”
Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA
“Refreshing America”
Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
2024
“Louisianais.e”
Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA
2022
“Louisianais.e”
West Baton Rouge Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
2021
“...for our consideration”
The Front, New Orleans, LA
“After”
Diboll Gallery, New Orleans, LA
2019
“Clusterfunk”
Dana Center Gallery, New Orleans, LA
group exhibition for Vans “Off The Wall”
Cafe Istanbul, New Orleans, LA
2018
“Nature by Design”
Loyola University Design Department, New Orleans, LA
2017
“Continued Dreamers”
5 Press Gallery, New Orleans, LA
“Revoir”
Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
2026
Forthcoming – “La goutte qui déborde du vase”
Fondation des États-Unis, Paris, France
“Un certain regard”
George Marshall Center - Hôtel de Talleyrand (US Embassy), Paris, France
2024
“Go I know not where”
Good Children Gallery, New Orleans, LA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2026
Forthcoming – “Inner Landscapes”
Fondation des États-Unis, Paris, France
“Her Verses Unbound”
Fondation des États-Unis, Paris, France
2025
“Winter Liberty”
Fondation des États-Unis, Paris, France
“Survey #25”
SHED Projects, Cleveland, OH
“Our Point in Space”
Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA
“Refreshing America”
Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
2024
“Louisianais.e”
Acadiana Center for the Arts, Lafayette, LA
2022
“Louisianais.e”
West Baton Rouge Museum, Baton Rouge, LA
2021
“...for our consideration”
The Front, New Orleans, LA
“After”
Diboll Gallery, New Orleans, LA
2019
“Clusterfunk”
Dana Center Gallery, New Orleans, LA
group exhibition for Vans “Off The Wall”
Cafe Istanbul, New Orleans, LA
2018
“Nature by Design”
Loyola University Design Department, New Orleans, LA
2017
“Continued Dreamers”
5 Press Gallery, New Orleans, LA
“Revoir”
Contemporary Arts Center New Orleans, New Orleans, LA
RESIDENCIES, GRANTS, AWARDS
2025
Fonds des initiatives résidentes (FIR) Grant
Cité internationale universitaire de Paris, Paris, France
Fulbright-Harriet Hale Woolley Scholar 2025-2026
Fondation des États-Unis, Paris, France
The Brackish Artist Collective
Artist in Residence
The Water Collaborative, New Orleans, LA
2024
Joan Mitchell Center Artist in Residence
Joan Mitchell Center, New Orleans, LA
2021
Design for Good Award
Departmental Thesis Award for Samizdat
Loyola University New Orleans
CURATORIAL & GRAPHIC DESIGN PROJECTS
2025
lead graphic designer
Musique(s)!
Archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, Washington D.C.
co-curator+preparator
pop-up exhibition, “Atis Rezistans”
The Historic BK House & Gardens, New Orleans, LA
2024
co-curator & graphic designer, “Haiti-Louisiana: Tides of Freedom”
The Historic BK House & Gardens, New Orleans LA
United Nations, New York City, NY
2023
exhibition design, “300 Years of French and Creole Histories”
The Historic BK House & Gardens, New Orleans, LA
Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
PRESS
5th Floor Scholar Series : La nouvelle scène artistique américaine se révèle
Katya Vaz – La goutte qui déborde du vase
Mid-Year Meeting Fulbright France 2026
Good Children Gallery–
Unearthly Grove: Sarah House
Go I know not where: Katya Vaz
Joan Mitchell Center: In the Studio with Katya Vaz
Announcing the 2024 Joan Mitchell Center Artists-in-Residence
New Orleans' Nous Foundation takes a contemporary approach to Louisiana French and Creole
Nous releases Musique(s)!
Exhibit by New Orleans Non-profit to be displayed at United Nations
2025
Fonds des initiatives résidentes (FIR) Grant
Cité internationale universitaire de Paris, Paris, France
Fulbright-Harriet Hale Woolley Scholar 2025-2026
Fondation des États-Unis, Paris, France
The Brackish Artist Collective
Artist in Residence
The Water Collaborative, New Orleans, LA
2024
Joan Mitchell Center Artist in Residence
Joan Mitchell Center, New Orleans, LA
2021
Design for Good Award
Departmental Thesis Award for Samizdat
Loyola University New Orleans
CURATORIAL & GRAPHIC DESIGN PROJECTS
2025
lead graphic designer
Musique(s)!
Archived at the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, Washington D.C.
co-curator+preparator
pop-up exhibition, “Atis Rezistans”
The Historic BK House & Gardens, New Orleans, LA
2024
co-curator & graphic designer, “Haiti-Louisiana: Tides of Freedom”
The Historic BK House & Gardens, New Orleans LA
United Nations, New York City, NY
2023
exhibition design, “300 Years of French and Creole Histories”
The Historic BK House & Gardens, New Orleans, LA
Université de Bordeaux, Bordeaux, France
PRESS
5th Floor Scholar Series : La nouvelle scène artistique américaine se révèle
Katya Vaz – La goutte qui déborde du vase
Mid-Year Meeting Fulbright France 2026
Good Children Gallery–
Unearthly Grove: Sarah House
Go I know not where: Katya Vaz
Joan Mitchell Center: In the Studio with Katya Vaz
Announcing the 2024 Joan Mitchell Center Artists-in-Residence
New Orleans' Nous Foundation takes a contemporary approach to Louisiana French and Creole
Nous releases Musique(s)!
Exhibit by New Orleans Non-profit to be displayed at United Nations