I’m Izabela Lajoie, founder up and artist behind Izabela Joy Art.

I’m a 33-year-old full-time artist and muralist, a blessed mother of two beautiful girls, and a strong believer in the power of gratitude.

Born and raised in Bulgaria and now calling beautiful St. Petersburg, Florida home, I loved drawing and creating from a young age. But as I grew older, art became something I left behind. For more than 15 years, I barely drew or painted at all, and becoming a professional artist was never something I imagined for myself. It wasn’t until life changed in a way I could never have prepared for that I picked up a paintbrush again—and everything began to change.

The profound loss of my spouse became the unexpected beginning of my journey as an artist. In the midst of grief, I found my way back to painting, spending many late nights creating after my one-year-old daughter had gone to sleep.

When I began painting again, so much of what came to life on the canvas was inspired by my daughter. Motherhood was at the center of my world, and naturally it found its way into my art—from the special bond between a mother and her child to animals lovingly caring for their little ones. In many ways, I was painting the love I felt for her.

She was my greatest inspiration and, even then, I knew that while I was trying to create a beautiful world for her, she was helping me find my way back to mine.

She became the reason I wanted not only to keep moving forward, but to become the best version of myself. I thought constantly about the life I wanted to create for her and the example I wanted to set.

I wanted her to grow up knowing that her circumstances did not have to determine the size of her dreams. I wanted to show her—not simply tell her—that she could dream big, believe in herself, work for something she loved, and do big things if she was willing to put her heart and mind into them.

And while I was trying to teach her those things, she was inspiring me to live them myself.

It didn’t take long for me to realize that art wasn’t simply something I had returned to—it was my calling. Those late-night paintings grew into Izabela Joy Art and eventually into a career that has allowed me to create original artwork, transform walls through murals, connect with incredible people, and build a life around something I truly love.

Today, I feel incredibly grateful for how far Izabela Joy Art has come and for the beautiful life that has grown alongside it. I’m honored to be a military wife to a wonderful husband and a mother of two beautiful girls, and my family is at the heart of my world. They are my greatest priority and an endless source of inspiration, continually shaping the way I see love, motherhood, gratitude, and the moments in life worth holding onto. Being able to pursue the work I love while being present for the people I love most is something I will never take for granted.

That journey has shaped both the artist and the person I am today.

Beyond creating beautiful artwork, I want to spread awareness of how powerful hope can be and how important it is to be present for the life we are living. Life can change so quickly, and I believe there is incredible value in noticing the people, the moments, and the beauty that are here with us now—while still allowing ourselves to dream about what may be ahead.

I know firsthand that life can change without warning. But I also know that a chapter you never wanted can become the beginning of something you never imagined.

I hope you find JOY, hope, and positivity in my art—and perhaps a little reminder to notice the beauty in your own life, too.

I’m incredibly grateful that this is the path my life has led me to, and I never take for granted that I get to create, dream, and share my work with others. If you are somewhere along the path of pursuing a dream of your own, I hope my story encourages you to keep going. Believe in yourself, trust the journey, and don’t be afraid to dream bigger than where you are today.

Thank you for being here, for supporting my art, and for being part of this journey.

With gratitude,
Izabela Lajoie
Founder & Artist, Izabela Joy Art