MFA in Screenwriting 2024 | The David Lynch Graduate School of Cinematic Arts. MIU. Fairfield, IA
Special Student Program 2023 | Film/TV. NYU Tisch School of the Arts. New York, NY
BFA in Fine Art | Painting, Sculpture, Video Art. CalArts. Valencia, CA
Raised in LA and formed by a firm emphasis on academics, Joanna was on track to be a biologist, but swiftly pivoted after discovering a personally moving, devastating, cinematic work. That moment sparked a curiosity and quest for true art— raw, expressive, and real. Inclined to identify the unique essence of an idea, she believes in finding new life in the familiar and seeks out the most effective ways to showcase those concepts.
The heart of her multi-disciplinary visual language involves painting, sculpture, and video art, but more avenues of storytellling unlock and evolve with each new project. She blends aspects of her early background in math and science with her passions for movies, history, and graphic design. Several series examine the functions of memory, time, technology, and desire.
Her childhood was a shining example of dedication and strength, nurtured by her hard-working, immigrant parents and special needs sister, who she adores deeply. As a writer, she aims to bridge the gap between the unique perspective her upbringing has shaped and the hundreds of hours spent consuming commercialized American pop-culture as a young child.
After four transformative years in New York City, Joanna currently lives and works in Los Angeles.
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Awards & Recognition:
Valley Cultural Foundation Scholarship in the Arts
CalArts Merit Scholarship
Friends of CalArts Scholarship
Governor’s Scholars Awards in Biology and Chemistry