Influential Woman · Artist
Barbara Kolo
BFA
Contemporary Artist, Painter, Independent artist working in the public domain
Santa Monica, CA
Her Story
About Barbara
Barbara Kolo is a fine artist and painter based in Santa Monica, California. She earned a BFA from the School of Visual Arts after attending the High School of Art and Design in New York City, and she also studied at the Art Students League and took evening classes at UCLA. Kolo began her career in the film industry in New York before moving to Los Angeles, where she worked as an art director and director at Universal Studios for four to five years. After transitioning from the film industry, she reinvented herself as a successful fine artist and painter, developing her work during a two-year stay in Paris. She has received several Key Art Awards, a Belding Award, a gold medal from New York Festivals, and a John Belding Award. Kolo attributes her success to a tremendous amount of drive and advises others to never give up and follow their dreams while staying true to their values of integrity.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Barbara
01What do you attribute your success to?
I was gifted with a lot of drive. I have a tremendous amount of drive. I'm driven to get all this work done and I'm still excited.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Never give up. Follow your dreams. It's simple advice but it really is pretty accurate.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't dwell on any perceived setbacks. Don't really let it enter your mind. Keep moving forward. It's getting better and better. Don't think that you're going to be held back by those things.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
The fine art world is very cryptic. There are all these unwritten rules like how you approach a gallery and you kind of have to figure out how to go about all these things on your own. There's no handbook.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
There's a certain amount of integrity that the world is lacking today. I still maintain certain values no matter what's going on out there. You have to stay true to yourself.
Join Influential Women and start making an impact. Register now.