Paulina Bours Gándara is a 22-year-old Mexican painter whose work is deeply rooted in curiosity, sensitivity, and a lifelong passion for creative expression. Based in Mexico, Paulina’s artistic journey has been shaped by prestigious educational experiences, including her selection as one of twelve participants in Columbia University’s six-week Advanced Painting Intensive in New York City, where she received personalized mentorship through individual and group critiques from internationally recognized artists and curators. She further honed her skills at the Madrid Academy of Art, practicing traditional drawing and painting techniques inspired by the Renaissance. A law student at the University of Monterrey, Paulina has also pursued specialized studies in art law at Sotheby’s Institute of Art, legal sociology at Universidad Carlos III de Madrid—exploring the intersection of legal systems with culture and society—and contemporary art courses at Christie’s Education and the Museum of Modern Art.

Paulina’s engagement with the humanities, including literature, philosophy, art history, sociology, and social work, shapes her creative process by deepening her understanding of the world and herself. Through writing, painting, and playing music, she intuitively explores her own identity and perception of her surroundings. A highly sensitive and inquisitive artist, she has worked with various mediums throughout her life, including oil, charcoal, acrylic, and spray paint, with a particular focus on monumental paintings and portraiture. Her work ranges from meticulously crafted portraits—both self-portraits and depictions of imagined figures or strangers—to intuitive, abstract compositions. Paulina often engages with her subjects through photography and conversations, weaving their stories into her paintings. Her art is a means of self-discovery, driven by an intuitive approach and her curiosity on human experience.