Nerissa Balland is a visual artist, therapeutic arts practitioner, and two-time cancer survivor whose mixed-media works range from intimate to large-scale. As a visual storyteller, she draws on spiritual symbols, patterns, and natural elements to explore universal themes of self-love, acceptance, and protection.

Her lifelong desire to create is grounded in a belief that authenticity is the key to preserving innocence in the creative process—a delicate balance between honed technique and the freedom of “the unlearned.”

Nerissa holds an MFA in Painting from Pratt Institute, a BA in Studio Art from the University of Maryland, and studied Digital Design at the University of Copenhagen. Before fully dedicating herself to her studio practice, she spent nearly two decades in marketing, branding, and design. Today, she exhibits widely across South Florida—from Miami Art Week to universities, hospitals, and faith-based institutions—and creates commissioned works for both residential and commercial collectors.

Artist Statement

My creative process continually evolves, balancing technical skill with the freedom of “the unlearned.” Each work unfolds in layers—like peeling an onion—revealing deeper explorations of universal human desires for acceptance, love, and protection. I am drawn to boundaries, fascinated by their definitions, and often compelled to break or reimagine them.

Through texture, color, and layered strokes, my work embodies a playful yet structured sense of chaos. While the materials I use vary across series, my methodology remains consistent: each body of work is guided by its own subject matter, which determines the materials, forms, and approaches I employ.