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Born in the Dominican Republic, Wildriana María de Jesús Paulino is an multidisciplinary artist and educator. She holds a BFA from The Cooper Union School of Art and currently teaches at The Bronx Museum. Wildriana has exhibited her work at venues such as the Bronx River Art Center and the Abrazo Interno Gallery. A recipient of the 2022 Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation Prize, her collaborations include Women's Strike NYC and The Audubon Society. In 2023, she was awarded the 178Studio Residency at Cornerstone Studios, where she held a studio until March 2024. The same summer, she received the NYLAAT artist residency on Governors Island.

Statement 
 

My practice centers on femininity, transformation, and autonomy. I merge female and natural forms to create beings where femininity thrives independently, embodying both mother and daughter. Growing up in a matriarchal household in the Dominican Republic—where violence against women is prevalent—has deeply shaped my work. This tension between femicide and my upbringing drives my exploration of how women can reclaim autonomy in a world that often strips it away. Rooted in my family’s agricultural background, I view nature as the ultimate symbol of independence. Working in drawing, sculpture, printmaking, and installation, I use handmade paper, inks, and organic materials to reflect on the resilience of the female body and its connection to the Earth.


 
CV
Education

 

2022  The Cooper Union for the Advancement of Science and Art, BFA 
 

Solo Exhibitions
 

2022   Para nunca escocer - To Never Ache, The Cooper Union, New York

2017   Introduction, The City College of New York, New York

 

Group Exhibitions
 

2024    Cuerpo e Identidad, NYLAAT, Governors Island, New York
2023    Scaling Nature, Bronx River Art Center, (The BRAC),  New York

2022    Abya Yala, NY Latin American Art Triennial, Governors Island, New York
2022    EOYS, The Cooper Union, New York

2022    12 x 12 x 12, The Cooper Union, New York

2021    Diversidad Juntos, ArteLatAm, Virtual Exhibition 

2021    1(800) Support, The Cooper Union, New York

2021    Viva La Memento Mori, AHA Fine Art, New York 

2021    AfreeCAN, Chashama Gallery, New York 

2021    EOYS, The Cooper Union, New York
2021    Social Reckoning, eMele-K, Abrazo Interno Gallery, New York

2020    For the Love of Art: An Appropriated Intentions Exhibition, Fort George Hill, New York 

2020    Annual Members Exhibition, Robert Blackburn Printshop, New York

2020    EOYS, The Cooper Union, Virtual Exhibition

2019    EOYS, The Cooper Union, New York

2018    Untitled Show 3, Nuyorican Poets Cafe, New York

2018    YES, Saturday Program at Cooper Union, New York

2017    Uptown Triennial, The Studio Museum in Harlem in conjunction with Miriam and Ira D.       

            Wallach Art Gallery at Columbia University, New York  

2017    La Casa, La Casa, New York

2017    Impressions, The Studio Museum in Harlem, New York

Residencies / Awards 

 

2025       Vermont Studio Center, Full Fellowship, Vermont, US (Forthcoming) 
2024       MarinaMansion Residency, Brooklyn, NY
2024       NYLAAT,  Artist in Residence, Governors Island, NY 
2023-24 Cornerstone 178Studio Artist in Residence, New York, NY

2022      Jacques and Natasha Gelman Foundation Prize 

2021      Sylvia Appelman Painting Award

              School of Art at the Cooper Union Grant recipient 

              The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation Grant recipient 
2020      The Carroll and Milton Petrie Foundation Grant recipient 

              Young Blackburn Print Fellow, Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop

2019      Pinta Tu Patria, Dominican Embassy, First place
              Innovator Scholarship, The Cooper Union, New York, NY

2018      Merit Scholarship, The Cooper Union, New York, NY

              We Support Creativity, Undergraduate World Award recipient 

2017      Harlem Postcard Photography Competition, First Place

 

Selected Guest Speaker / Lecturer 

2014     Artist Talk, The Bronx Museum Teen Summer Program, Governors Island, NY
2024     Teachers College, Columbia University, NYCMER Conference-Why Museums?, Panelist, New York, NY
2024     Pratt University, Department of Museum Studies, Guest Lecturer, Brooklyn, NY.
2024     Cornerstone Studios, Residency Culmination Artist Talk, New York, NY.
2023     Pratt University, Department of Museum Studies, virtual, Guest Lecturer, Brooklyn, NY.



Bibliography

2023    Pine Warbler by Wildriana Paulino, Audubon Mural Project
2022    Cientos de artistas de toda latinoamérica exponen en trienal de Nueva York, El Pulso, SLP, México
2022    Senior Snapshots: School of Art 2022, The Cooper Union
2022    Wildriana Paulino: To Never Ache, Interview by Beez and Honey Podcast- Nicollette Ramirez

2022    30 Seconds In The Studio, The Cooper Union
2021    Wildriana Paulino, artista dominicana, eleva la voz de las mujeres con su arte, Interview by ArteLatAm

 

Public Projects

2022   Mural painting for Audubon Society, NYC 

2021   Mural painting for Collectivo Amarante

2021   Design for Women Strike NYC

2020   Public art in conjunction with Women Strike NYC

Professional Experience

 

2023       Museum Educator, The Bronx Museum, Bronx, New York 

2021       Intern at Pace Paper Prints, New York
2020       Intern at Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop, New York

2020-21  Sculpture Instructor, Saturday Program at The Cooper Union, New York

2020       Assistant to Director, ArteLatAm, New York
2017-19  Gallery Assistant at Kenkeleba House, Wilmer Jennings Gallery, New York 

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