About the Artist

Joanna Drakos, a native of Athens, Greece, currently lives and works in Reno, Nevada. She graduated in 1991 from the University of North Carolina, Charlotte with a bachelor’s degree in Fine Art. Additionally, in 2000, she earned an associate degree in Advertising and Graphic Design, graduating with honors. She pursued a decade long career in magazine design and art direction for the publishing houses, Conde Nast, and Gannett Corporation. She now conducts a full-time, professional art practice.

 

Joanna is a three-time Nevada Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts Individual Artist Grant recipient; having been awarded project grants in 2022, 2023, and 2025. 

Joanna is the founder of Downtown Modernists, a private, Northern Nevada artist group comprised of artists working in non-representational abstract styles. The group hosts salons and organizes group shows for members. 

Since 2020, Joanna has participated in numerous group shows, been a featured artist in regional galleries and had solo exhibitions in the Northern Nevada and Lake Tahoe region.