The Artist

Hi, I’m Mona Henao — a Colombian artist living between Switzerland and Portugal, with my heart stretched across cultures, colors, and causes.

My journey began in industrial design and marketing, but creativity has always been the thread stitching everything in my life together. Over the years, I’ve developed a distinctive visual voice shaped by my deep fascination with history, culture, and politics — and by the rebellious, joyful energy of Pop Art.

I paint with conviction. My artworks, often in acrylic on canvas, draw inspiration from the bold contrasts and clean lines of stencil and screen printing. At first glance, they might look like digital prints — but step closer and you’ll see the brushstrokes, the human touch behind every piece. That contrast is important to me. It mirrors the layers in all of us: the seen and the felt, the bold and the vulnerable.

My art pays tribute to cultural icons — artists, singers, actors, and characters — who’ve used their voice or presence to move the world forward, to challenge norms, or simply to bring comfort in chaotic times. In them, I find not only inspiration but allies in the pursuit of meaning and change.

Alongside my canvas work, I also paint garments. Yes — actual clothes, mostly jackets, turning everyday wear into walking pieces of art. Each piece is hand-painted, vibrant, and absolutely unique. Imagine your favorite pop culture icon — or your own portrait, maybe — turned into a colorful, expressive statement that you can literally wear. Whether you want to celebrate a legend or express your individuality, I’m always happy to create custom pieces. Just write me a message — I’d love to bring your vision to life.

As for the “art world,” I’ll be honest: I’ve always felt a bit out of place in traditional gallery systems. While I deeply respect curation and art spaces, I find it hard to align with models that not only take significant commissions from artists, but also charge them just to exhibit. I believe that for the art world to evolve into something more just and sustainable, we — as artists — sometimes need to make difficult choices. For me, that’s meant carving my own path, even if it hasn’t always been easy. But I’m convinced that meaningful change only happens when we dare to challenge the norm.

In the end, I see art not just as something to look at, but something to live with — or even wear. My mission is to bring color and consciousness together, with work that speaks to the heart and refuses to blend in.

Thanks for being here.