Curriculum Vitae

Nerissa Balland
Visual Artist · Author · Speaker · Therapeutic Arts Practitioner

Education

Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York
M.F.A., Fine Arts, Painting
2002

University of Florida — Center for Arts in Medicine
Graduate Coursework, Arts in Health
2019–2020

Pratt/DIS, Copenhagen, Denmark
Certificate, Digital Design & Web Design
Highest Academic Honors
2001

University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
B.A., Fine Arts
1999

Professional Certifications

Certified Master NLP Practitioner
iNLP Center, 2019

Certified NLP Practitioner
iNLP Center, 2019

Therapeutic Art Life Coach
Transformation Academy, 2019

CBT Cognitive Behavioral Life Coach
Transformation Academy, 2019

REBT Mindset Life Coach
Transformation Academy, 2019

Certified Life Coach
iNLP Center, 2019

Florida Educator Certificate, Art (Grades K–12)
Florida Department of Education, 2022

Books & Publications

2026
The Curious Curator: The Art of Curiosity, Creativity & Discovery
Author

2026
Canvas of Courage: The Art of Healing, Hope, and Gratitude for Young Mothers Facing Cancer
Author

2026
“Broken Crayons Still Color: When Survival Changes You”
SurvivingBreastCancer.org, August 2026

Selected Speaking, Panels & Workshops

2026
Your Courage Has a Shape, Therapeutic Arts Workshop
Pinked Perspectives, Severna Park, Maryland
September 26, 2026 (upcoming)

2023
Art Colors Our World, FAEA Annual Conference
Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
October 5–8, 2023

2022
Art for the Health of It, Four-Session Workshop Series
TAL
February 2022

2021
Art for the Health of It: Access the Art & Science of Change, Workshop Series
ArtServe, Fort Lauderdale, Florida

2021
Creative Workshop
Florida International University Hillel, Miami, Florida
April 14, 2021

2020
Stress Is No Joke!, Panel
Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus
July 16, 2020

2020
Wine Not? Color. Drink. Chat, Virtual Creative Workshop
Sharsheret & Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus, Tikkun Olam Initiative / Bridge to Women Series
June 18, 2020

2020
What’s Love Got to Do With It, Creative Workshop
Greater Miami Jewish Federation & Beth Torah Benny Rok Campus, Bridge to Women Series
March 11, 2020

2020
International Women’s Month Panel
CBRE, Brickell, Miami, Florida
March 4, 2020

2020
Creative Painting Workshop
University of Miami Hillel, Coral Gables, Florida
February 26, 2020

2019
Relax. Create. Release., Arts in Medicine Workshop for Cancer Patients
Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center, University of Miami Health System, Miami, Florida
November 6, 2019

2019
Relax. Create. Inspire., Sababa Women’s Club
Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center, Miami, Florida
November 20, 2019

2019
Threesome: Mind, Body, Soul, Creative Workshop
Soho Beach House, Miami Beach, Florida
June 1, 2019

2019
Artist Panel, Frank Contemporaries
The Frank, Pembroke Pines, Florida
May 30, 2019

2019
Women Empowerment Series, Creative Workshop
University of Miami Hillel, Coral Gables, Florida
February 18–19, 2019

Selected Artist Talks

2022
Artist Talk, MiArt Space Gallery
December 7, 2022

2018
Artist Talk, Art Center Wynwood / MiArt Space
December 8, 2018

Media Appearances

2026

Healing Heroes
Podcast Guest

Surviving Breast Cancer — Breast Cancer Conversations
Podcast Guest

The Many Faces of Cancer
Podcast Guest

The Neuro’s Journey
Podcast Guest

By Valeria & Love
Podcast Guest

The Wellthy Healthy Life
Podcast Guest

Essential Mental Healing
Podcast Guest

The Wellness Hub
Podcast Guest

It’s Her Time with Cody
Podcast Guest · Forthcoming Fall 2026

Resilience Unraveled
Podcast Guest · Forthcoming Fall 2026

The Cancer Liberation Project with Hayley Dubin
Podcast Guest · Forthcoming Fall 2026

Cancer Proof Living
Podcast Guest · Forthcoming Fall 2026

Create the Best Me Podcast with Carmen Hecox
Podcast Guest · Forthcoming Fall 2026

Women Awakening with Cynthia James
Podcast Guest · Forthcoming Winter 2026

I Am Refocused Radio
Guest Interview · Forthcoming Winter 2026

2027

Let’s Talk Wellness Now
Podcast Guest · Forthcoming Early 2027

Earlier Media Features

2020

Shoutout Miami
Featured Interview

2018

VoyageMIA — Art & Life with Nerissa Balland
Featured Interview

Exhibitions & Awards

2025

Group Exhibition, Expo Metro Collective
Metro Station Passeig de Gràcia (Corridor L3–L4), Barcelona, Spain
June 16–29, 2025

Collective Invitational, Artful Minds
NAMI Broward County · MAD Arts, Dania Beach, Florida
May 29, 2025

Juried Exhibition, Mirrored Realities
NSU, Cotilla Gallery, Davie, Florida
May 10–June 16, 2025

Juried Exhibition, BLOOM
Galleria Fort Lauderdale, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
Best in Show
April 24, 2025

Group Exhibition, Art Deco Weekend · Expo Metro Collective
Ocean Drive, South Beach, Florida
January 18–19, 2025

2024

Miami Art Week, Collective Exhibition, Parallel 24
MIArt Space, Miami, Florida
December 5–8, 2024

2022

Miami Art Week, Collective Exhibition, Parallel 22
MIArt Space, Miami, Florida
December 1–8, 2022

Collective Invitational Virtual Exhibition, Biennale Wynwood
MIArt Space, Miami, Florida
November 16–December 15, 2022

Juried Exhibition, Evening with the Stars
JAFCO & Broward Art Guild, Plantation, Florida
Honorable Mention — Soul Selfie | Abiel
April 13, 2022

2020–2021

Juried Group Exhibition, Salon
ArtServe Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
November 12, 2020–February 13, 2021

2020

Juried Group Exhibition, Stories and Secrets
North Regional/Broward College Library, Coconut Creek, Florida
February 8–March 28, 2020

2019

Juried Group Exhibition, HOME
ArtServe Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
August 22–September 27, 2019

Solo Exhibition, #133
ArtServe Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
June 12–28, 2019

Artist Panel & Exhibition
The Frank C. Ortis Art Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
May 30, 2019

Group Exhibition, REFLECT
ArtServe Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
People’s Choice Award
May 20–June 7, 2019

Works on Exhibit
Holy Cross Hospital, Dorothy Mangurian Comprehensive Women’s Center, Oakland Park, Florida
April 8–July 19, 2019

Empath Series on Exhibit
University of Miami Hillel, Braman Center for Jewish Study, Miami, Florida
March 14, 2019–Present

Juried Fine Art Show, ArtBravo
ArtServe Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
February 5–22, 2019

2018

Miami Art Week, Collective Exhibition, Parallel18
Art Center Wynwood, Miami, Florida
December 1–15, 2018

Group Exhibition, True Colors
ArtServe Gallery, Fort Lauderdale, Florida
October 5–26, 2018

2015

Group Exhibition, 5 Artists
Temple Beth Sholom, Miami Beach, Florida
May–August 2015

2007

Group Exhibition, The Square Foot Show
Art Gotham Gallery, New York, New York
April 5–19, 2007

2002

M.F.A. Thesis Exhibition, Re-Call
Pratt Studios, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, New York
April 15–19, 2002

1999

Group Exhibition, Coming Together
Andrew Miscuk Gallery, Washington, D.C.
May 23, 1999

Group Exhibition, New Creations
West Gallery, University of Maryland, College Park, Maryland
April–May 1999

Juried Exhibition, Fresh Outlook
Rosenberg Gallery, New York, New York
January–February 1999

1998

Juried Exhibition, Roots of the Aesthetics
Greenbelt Community Center, Greenbelt, Maryland
November–December 1998

Juried Exhibition, A View of Adams Morgan
The Latino Association, Washington, D.C.
Second Place in Show
August 1998