Kianna Godoy
Artist-in-Residence
The Apron
2026 | Acrylic on canvas
Kianna Godoy has called the Jacksonville area home for nearly 18 years. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of North Florida and a Master of Arts from the University of Florida’s Arts in Medicine program. Now in her eighth year with AWAHIH, Kianna works primarily in colored pencil, watercolor, and acrylic, exploring human experience and the ways self-perception influences how we move through the world.
In The Apron, an everyday symbol of Kianna’s work with AWAHIH becomes a reflection on possibility, learning, and the ways eight years of creating alongside patients have shaped her.
In Her Own Words:
What drew you to Art with a Heart in Healthcare?
While I’d had some exposure to this work in the past, it wasn’t until I started volunteering and interning with the organization that I understood the necessity of supporting access to fine art in healthcare.
I love that I can use my art skills to enable creative expression and empower participants in their journeys, regardless of their background.
What are you most drawn to in your personal art practice?
Most of my work is done in colored pencils and watercolors, though I also work in acrylics. Accessibility plays a big role in my experience, so media that I can “grab and go” is helpful in my process.
My work explores themes of human experience and how our self-perception influences those experiences. Lately, my artmaking is reflective of my sense of self in time. The way I’m feeling or thinking makes its way into what I create, whether through my choice of medium or the way I develop a piece.
Tell us about The Apron.
I wanted the piece to focus on the aprons we wear as part of our work uniform. The aprons distinguish us from others in the facilities we’re often in, so I felt it was an important part of who we are as an organization.
I treated the apron as drapery, with the shape of the distorted fabric reminding me of fluidity and space, almost like a portal to unlimited learning and opportunity.
How has being an Artist-in-Residence influenced you?
Working as an Artist-in-Residence has challenged me both as a professional artist and as an individual in ways I will carry with me for the rest of my life.
Creativity is everywhere. When we are given an opportunity to express our unique selves, we come closer to understanding our place in the world and the ways we can make a meaningful difference.
What do you hope viewers carry with them?
As simple as things may appear, there’s often more going on beyond first glance. I hope my piece encourages viewers to consider the ways there is wonder in things we might otherwise consider ordinary.
