Our Minds Create Our Reality presents a series of ceramic sculptures that bridge the past and present, drawing on pre-Columbian traditions to address contemporary issues like climate change and mental health. Rooted in a deep reverence for the artist’s Indigenous ancestry, her work pays tribute to history while highlighting the inextricable link between our collective health and that of the planet, and the impact of our environment on our mental equilibrium. Kimberly’s personal experience with mental health, shaped by life in a capitalist, post-colonial society, deeply influences this series.
Inspired by Indigenous Colombian beliefs about ancient ceramics as messengers of balance, Kimberly’s sculptures reflect our interconnectedness with nature. Just as inner turmoil can manifest in environmental disorder, healing ourselves can help restore harmony to our surroundings. The care we give to ourselves and to our communities mirrors the care we extend to the Earth.
Kimberly Orjuela earned her B.F.A. from Concordia University in 2023. In 2022, she participated in a residency at the Guldagergaard – International Ceramics Research Center in Denmark. Recognized for her work, she was selected for the National Council on Education for the Ceramics Arts (NCECA) Multicultural Fellowship in 2024. Kimberly’s art has been exhibited both nationally and internationally, including notable showcases in galleries and at the Outsider Art Fair in New York City. Her work is part of esteemed collections such as Collection Majudia and the Gardiner Museum.
Kimberly will present two solo exhibitions in Montreal in 2025: at Galerie Hugues Charbonneau and at the McClure Gallery. Additionally, her work will feature in the 2025 NCECA Multicultural Fellowship group exhibition at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Utah in March 2025.
https://kimberlyorjuela.com/
