Isabel Parra

Isabel Parra is a formally trained Colombian-French visual artist. She was born and grew up in Colombia, where she completed her Bachelor's degree in visual arts followed by a Master's degree in education, majoring in art. Driven by an interest in the individual’s relationship to society, she continued her academic exploration through a Master's Degree in Culture and Chinese Society. She currently resides in Hong Kong, where she balances her time between art and teaching, two of her greatest passions.

“ My artistic interests have revolved around the natural, social, economic and cultural relationship man has with his environment, none of these aspects separated from the others, or from the evolution of every individual in society. In this way, my artwork is an attempt to understand the society that I am part of. I question myself about ways of life, its negative as well as positive characteristics, and the symbols it both reflects and holds, at the same time permitting myself to be fascinated and infuriated by the great contrasts and contradictions that it confines”.

The nature and the increasingly frequent imbalances we see on our planet have been themes that have deeply concerned Parra and made her reflect both from a personal and artistic angle. Since a young age, she has questioned the relationships we maintain with nature, how we are intimately connected to it, and how, from an aesthetic perspective, artistic creation has the power and responsibility to direct our gaze toward the realities that affect us all, both individually and collectively.

We engage in a constant symbiosis with our environment, primarily with natural elements. In our daily lives, we often forget how our actions—large or small—significantly impact our surroundings. This symbiosis takes on cultural, social, and political dimensions, highlighting the roles and responsibilities we share in ensuring a balanced coexistence.

Her artwork is  rich in symbolic content, reflecting emotions, illusions, and a hint of melancholy. They invite us to reflect on our role in society and seek harmony amid the socio-environmental imbalances that affect our lives. Isabel Parra’s recent artwork looks towards nature, yearning for kinder environments and promoting solidarity and the humanity that sometimes feels lost in today's world.

Isabel Parra follows her curiosity wherever it leads, playing with different techniques and materials. While painting remains her primary medium of expression, she also works in photography, printmaking, installation, and mixed media. In the past she collaborated on interior design projects; today she is open to commissions in artistic interior design, especially those that craft spaces which echo and engage with environmental concerns.

The works on paper she is presenting in this exhibition are part of the preparatory studies for her new series, Extinction, which will be shown in her upcoming solo exhibition during French May as well. What began as small-format sketches gradually became delicate treasures—rich in detail, emotion, and research. With Extinction, the gaze turns to the core of our existence: humans as one species among many. The series invites a wider reflection—not only on the environmental crisis and species loss, but on our place, responsibility, and capacity for solidarity. It takes on philosophical, sociological, and political dimensions.

Isabel Parra has shown her artwork in Colombia, Hong Kong, Italy, Korea, Switzerland and USA.