Joanna Kalevas Drakos
Independent professional artist based in Reno, Nevada
Hometown: Charlotte, NC
Education: Bachelor of Creative Arts, UNC Charlotte (1991)
Associate in Applied Science, Advertising and Graphic Design, CPCC (1999)
When Joanna Drakos was an elementary school student in Charlotte, her class took a field trip to the Mint Museum of Art.
“It was the first time I had entered any museum and it was a life changing event,” she says. “I knew there was something about being in the museum that was transformative. I had a visceral connection to it.”
Already drawn to painting – it is listed as her favorite activity in a memory book from her early school years – Joanna says she was encouraged to further explore her artsy side in a Gifted and Talented program.
“This is where I came alive and my creativity was allowed to flourish without judgement or restraint. This is when I knew I belonged in the creative realm. This is why arts education in public schools is vital to the development of the ‘whole’ child.”
In spite of these formative experiences, Joanna did not immediately declare an art major when she came to UNC Charlotte.
“I tried to find the correct place for myself by sampling many other departments. But ultimately, I made my way into Rowe Arts, and I knew that was where I belonged. I had finally found my people.”
She attended UNC Charlotte during the 1980s, when there were still dirt parking lots on the edge of campus, and parking passes were $36. She remembers hanging out by the Belk Tower with friends and listening to the folks who would come to express their opinions and free speech.
Among her most memorable art professors were Eric Anderson and Linda Kroff.
“Eric knew, if only I would apply myself, I could accomplish great things.”
In the years since she earned her degree, Joanna has certainly accomplished great things. She is now an independent professional artist based in Reno, Nevada. After a decades-long career in photography, non-profit arts administration, and the publishing industry, she returned to the studio full-time in 2020, where she focuses on abstract painting. The logo for her art business and Instagram profile is her self portrait, “Sardonic Sophisticate,” which won second place in the annual student juried exhibition at UNC Charlotte.
“Painted when I was 20 years old, it bridges the gap between my graduation to the start of my professional painting practice, so many years later,” she says.
This year, Joanna was selected by the City of Reno Arts and Culture Commission to be the official Reno City Artist for 2026. She will have a solo show during the summer of 2026 at the Metro Gallery on the first floor of Reno City Hall, as well as curate a second show of other artists’ work.
“This gives me recognition to the level that I’ve not yet experienced in my career. It’s incredible to look back at the young adult in college, figuring out my place in the world, and see where pursuing my passion for art can take me. There is literally no ceiling when you fearlessly follow your passion and create the work you were meant to make. I think my professor, Eric Anderson, would be proud.”
Joanna says that today’s art students have resources that “were unimaginable to a graduate in 1991.”
“I recommend consistently taking small steps towards your goals until you can take the big leaps. You will get rejected; be prepared for that. Being an artist is the long road. When you start, say yes to every opportunity because it always leads to new collaborations, even years later. Do consistent work, guard your professional reputation, be reliable and trustworthy. As an artist, your name is your currency, and it will pay dividends. By all means, don’t chase perfection, it kills the energy in a piece.”