Kristen Palana is an American/Portuguese multidisciplinary artist based in Malawi. After decades as a digital artist, she has reconnected with her fine art roots by embracing mixed media drawing. Kristen’s animations have screened in over 75 international film festivals earning numerous “Best Animated Short Film” awards including at Cannes Short Film Festival, Italy International Film Festival, and Sunscreen Film Festival.

As an educator, she’s taught at universities on four continents, including at The American University of Rome, where she co-founded the Film and Digital Media Program. She’s worked as a designer and educator for organizations such as the WHO, UNICEF, WFP, GIZ, UNDP, UNFPA and created multimedia programs for students from all walks of life. From 2016–2019, she taught for universities and NGOs in Myanmar. She recently had a solo show at the Narrows Center for the Arts in Fall River, MA. USA, the city where she was born.