Meet Carola Bravo

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Carola Bravo. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Carola , looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I credit my strong work ethic to the incredible example set by my family. Growing up, I witnessed my father embody the values of responsibility, care, and integrity in his work as a doctor, earning the respect of his peers and the gratitude of his patients. My mother showed me the power of love, understanding, and positivity in every aspect of life. My sister, with her intelligence and incredible strength, has been a constant source of inspiration and a role model for resilience and determination, and my daughter’s kindness, compassion and sense of responsibility inspire me daily to strive to be the best version of myself. Beyond my immediate family, I was surrounded by a network of successful professionals who were not only accomplished in their fields but also deeply respected and acknowledged by the community. I consider myself fortunate to have grown up in an environment where doing things the right way, with dedication and an unwavering commitment to helping others, was not just a principle but a way of life.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am an artist and cultural practitioner with over 30 years of experience dedicated to developing my artistic practice, fostering education, and inspiring art appreciation. My work includes public art, immersive site-specific video, and art installations, focusing on exploring the geometry of spaces and their intersections with history, memory, and time. Through my practice, I explore themes such as memory, change, home, exile, and hope, creating deeply reflective and resonant experiences.

In 2014, I founded the HARTVEST PROJECT, an art venture aimed at promoting art appreciation and collecting. Since then, I have produced over 350 art events and activities, organized 35 group exhibitions, and collaborated with more than 400 local artists. In 2021, I created The Ciconia Art Collection, a membership program for art collecting. In just one year, the program achieved the remarkable accomplishment of selling and delivering 800 artworks to over 150 families. Currently, I teach a the Florida International University’s Architecture and Art History Departments. I am also a former Titular Professor and Chair of the Architecture and Art Department at Simón Bolívar University in Caracas, Venezuela.

My academic journey includes earning a Ph.D. in Architecture (2016), an M.A. in Art History (2003) from Venezuela’s Central University, and a B.Sc. in Architecture from the University of the Arts, Philadelphia, USA (1987). I remain committed to the arts, continuously striving to inspire new perspectives and foster meaningful connections within the cultural landscape.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Throughout my art journey, three qualities and areas of knowledge have been particularly impactful. First, I take immense pride in my deep understanding and management of space—its proportions, scales, and the ability to uncover its invisible possibilities, those often overlooked by the common eye. This skill allows me to reimagine and transform spaces in ways that resonate deeply with viewers. Second, my composition skills have been essential, enabling me to create harmonious and thought-provoking installations that connect visual elements with emotional depth. Finally, my capacity to connect to the space where I am, or where my work resides, has been a defining aspect of my practice. This quality is deeply rooted in my Venezuelan heritage and influenced by the concept of the synthesis of the arts, championed by architect Carlos Raúl Villanueva, whose vision has profoundly shaped my approach to creating art installations.

For those starting their journey, my advice is simple but vital: first, focus on connecting—with people, places, and ideas—as it is the only way to truly belong. Second, concentrate on doing what you do best, refining and mastering what sets you apart from others. Lastly, embrace constancy, as persistence and dedication are the keys to growth and success in any creative endeavor.

Awesome, really appreciate you opening up with us today and before we close maybe you can share a book recommendation with us. Has there been a book that’s been impactful in your growth and development?

Books have been a cornerstone of my artistic journey, profoundly shaping my perception of space, representation, and the emotional landscapes that inform my work. As a lover of literature, I have found inspiration in texts that explore the multifaceted relationships between space and imagination. Jorge Luis Borges’ writings on cartographies have opened my eyes to the fluid and subjective nature of maps. Adolfo Bioy Casares’ reflections on representation have deepened my understanding of how space can be transformed into a canvas for memory. Gaston Bachelard’s exploration of emotional spaces in The Poetics of Space has taught me to perceive the intimate and profound connections between place and human experience, guiding much of my artistic practice. Italo Calvino’s evocative descriptions of dreams and imaginary cities, particularly in Invisible Cities, have been a powerful source of inspiration, offering me new ways to envision and articulate the geometry of spaces and their invisible possibilities. Poetry, too, has played an integral role in my development. Rainer Maria Rilke’s meditations on existence and transformation, and T.S. Eliot’s exploration of time, memory, and longing, have imbued my work with a lyrical quality and an enduring sense of introspection.
These literary influences have not only shaped the way I perceive and create art but have also offered valuable wisdom: that space is never static, that representation is an act of imagination, and that the emotional resonance of a place often lies in what is unseen or felt rather than what is visible. Through these texts, I have learned to approach my work with a deeper sensitivity to the intersections of history, memory, and human connection.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.carolabravo.com/
• Instagram: @carolabravoart
• Youtube: carolabravo

Image Credits

Albert Rodriguez, Gerardo Chirinos.