Mirza Soledad Suárez Rey

Mirza Soledad Suárez Rey was born on 21 November 1973 in Bogotá. Shortly after her birth, her parents separated, but Mirza had a happy childhood, shaped by nature and rural schools.
When she reached pre-puberty, she and her sister moved to their father in the city, which was a drastic change for Mirza. At the age of 14, she was diagnosed with juvenile idiopathic arthritis, an incurable degenerative disease, which sent her into a deep depression. Through the support of a psychologist and her faith, she found the strength, however, to accept her new life and developed remarkable resilience.
In 2003, she moved in with her sister Beltsy, and in 2005 she passed her school leaving examination at the ASED Institute, where she experienced inclusion and social life for the first time. Although she began a study programme in Psychology, she had to give up her studies after two semesters for financial reasons.
A defining moment in her life came when she found out about the Association of Mouth and Foot Painting Artists. She began to develop her artistic potential further, and after years of practice and preparation, she decided in 2023 to pursue her passion. With her family’s support, she took the step of rising to this challenge and is thankful today for the opportunities that life offers her.