About Us
About Isa
Isa Zapata is a Colombian-American artist and Creative Director whose work celebrates color as a universal language. Selected for Miami's first permanent public art installation and honored by the Colombian Consulate in 2025, her vibrant paintings and illustrations are licensed by Target and featured in 60+ media outlets. She serves as Creative Director of Brickell and Key Biscayne Magazine and advocates for animal welfare through art and philanthropy.
In May 2025, Zapata was honored by the Colombian Consulate in Miami for her artistic career and contributions to the city's cultural landscape—a recognition that underscores her role as both creator and cultural connector.
Public Art & Exhibitions
In 2023, Zapata was selected as one of 52 artists for "The Dogs and Cats Walkway" at Maurice Ferré Park—Miami's first permanent public art installation. Her sculpture "Babaji," a pink Chihuahua celebrating unity and Miami's seasonal abundance, has become a beloved landmark in the city.
Her breakthrough came in 2007 when she was named Artist in Residence at Miami Children's Museum, where she taught workshops while expanding her artistic practice. Since then, her work has been exhibited in galleries across Miami, featured during Art Week, and collected internationally.
Editorial & Creative Direction
Since 2023, Zapata has served as Creative Director and Fashion Editor of Brickell Magazine and Key Biscayne Magazine, shaping visual narratives for South Florida's most discerning luxury audiences. She is also co-founder of Trukreative, a white-glove production agency specializing in high-concept visual campaigns.
Illustration & Publishing
Zapata has illustrated covers for the acclaimed Colombian literary series "Mujeres de Caña Dulce," "Mujeres de Café," and "Mujeres de Flor y Carriel" (published by Fun Musica, 2023-2025)—an homage celebrating Colombia's iconic women throughout history. She has also authored and illustrated children's books, including her affirmation-based coloring book Life Changing Affirmations.
Licensed Art
Her artwork is licensed by major retailers including Target, with collections available nationwide through partnerships with Deny Designs, Fine Art America, and other home décor brands. Her whimsical, joy-centered aesthetic has made her one of the most commercially successful Latin American artists working in the licensing space.
Philanthropy & Advocacy
Zapata is a fierce advocate for animal welfare and uses her platform to champion the belief that dogs are family. Through her brand Soulmates Collection—custom shoes for dog parents handcrafted in Cali, Colombia—she has donated proceeds to rescue organizations supporting senior dogs.
In 2011, she spearheaded "Artistas Unidos Por Dani," a celebrity-driven online auction that raised funds for life-changing craniofacial surgery for five-year-old Daniela Muñoz Ojeda of Mexico, who was diagnosed with Pfeiffer Syndrome. Donations came from Latin superstars including Ricky Martin, Maná, William Levy, David Villa, and Barbara Mori. For this effort, CNN en Español recognized Zapata as "La Notimujer de la Semana" for using her art and influence to help children in need.
She also created the "Dogs Are Family" project, inviting people to share rescue stories and immortalizing selected pets through custom illustrations—blending art with storytelling and community impact.
Media & Recognition
Zapata's work and philanthropic efforts have been featured in over 60 national and international media outlets, including The Miami Herald, The Huffington Post, CNN en Español, Telemundo, NBC6, Univision, and Despierta América. Her journey from corporate marketing professional to full-time artist has been chronicled in publications across the U.S., Colombia, and Mexico.
Background
Born and raised in Cali, Colombia, in a family of artists—she is the great-niece of legendary Colombian singer Helenita Vargas—Zapata earned a Master's degree in Marketing before immigrating to Miami nearly 20 years ago. In the US she left the security of corporate life to pursue her lifelong passion for art, beginning with handmade papier-mâché photo albums sold at church markets and evolving into a multidisciplinary practice that spans canvas, commerce, and community.
Self-taught and deeply intuitive, Zapata describes herself as a vessel—channeling energy, joy, and transformation through every medium she touches. She creates in her Miami studio alongside her rescued dogs James and Nero, making art that invites viewers back to what she calls Punto Cero: the zero point of possibility, joy, and remembrance.
Represented by: Trukreative
Studio: Miami, Florida