Paola Rivera Crespo

b. San Juan, PR, 1995.

Currently lives and studies in Florence, Italy.

EDUCATION

Florence Classical Arts Academy (FCAA), Florence, Italy, 2023

MIB Hult International Business School, San Francisco, CA, 2019

BAcc University of Puerto Rico, Río Piedras Campus, San Juan, PR, & University of Hawaii at Manoa, 2018

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2010 – First work selected for a student exhibition at the Liga de Arte de San Juan, Old San Juan, Puerto Rico

2017 – Exhibited two pieces at the Gallery Nights @ Open Studio Project, Número Favorito, organized by the local artist Sofía Maldonado, Paseo Caribe in San Juan, PR

PROJECTS

2014 – Private commission, Punky Grandma (acrylic on canvas, 60” x 72”), for Bocaíto Restaurant, Vega Baja, PR

2015 – Commissioned to paint a minivan for WaterWorld Surf School, Pine Groove Beach, Isla Verde, Carolina, PR

2016:           

- Commissioned private indoor mural, The Beer Shop Cafetería, Dorado, PR

- Live painted for Tequila 1800’s launch party organized by the local agency High Impact Promotions, La Concha Resort & Hotel, Condado, San Juan, PR

- Painted a small mural in the Mission District, San Francisco, CA as part of an art street project

- Invited to paint a mural, Friducha y Diego van a Ocean, at local bar and restaurant El Rex, Calle Loíza, San Juan, PR

- Live painted for Jose Cuervo’s Rolling Stones edition private launch party held at La Mala Vida, Old San Juan, PR

- Invited to showcase my art and background via SamyRoad’s Instagram, a page that targets and helps promote newcomers in art

- Painted various surfboards in collaboration with Corona Extra and High Impact Promotions for the Corona Extra Pro Surf Circuit held at Middles Beach, Isabela, PR

2017:

- Collaboration with Corona Extra and High Impact Promotions to paint giveaway surfboards for the Corona Extra Pro Surf Circuit O’Neill Series held at Domes Beach, Rincón, PR

- Invited to exhibit a big piece of art at the Sixne Concept Store located at the Calle Loíza, San Juan, PR

- Painted a second mural for El Rex’s new location at the Calle Loíza, San Juan, PR

- Commissioned to paint an indoor mural for La Chomba bar, Guaynabo, PR

2018:

- Live painted at a local artists’ event organized by Fubot Collective held at Espacio Minerva, Santurce, PR

- Collaboration with Corona Extra and High Impact Promotions for the Corona Pro Surf Circuit held in Rincón, PR

- Live painted in a Buchanan’s whisky launch event organized by the local agency Imagenda PR at the Museo de Arte Contemporáneo de Puerto Rico in Santurce

2019 – While living and working as a CPA in San Francisco, CA, Paola managed to commission various small to mid-size works locally

2020 – Commissioned to paint private indoor mural for the opening of Airbuns Burgers Restaurant, San Juan, PR

2021 – Continued working of private commissions in between San Francisco and Puerto Rico

2022 – Commissioned to paint an indoor mural for The Basement, San Francisco, CA