About

PAO (PAY-Oh)

Paola Reyes Melendez, aka ‘PAO’(pay-oh), first-generation Mexican-Puerto Rican, received her BFA from the University of San Francisco in 2021. Shortly after transferring from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she pivoted from Majoring in Studio Arts with a minor in Biological Anthropology to a BFA with intention of curating public, accessible Art Spaces

PAO lived a migrant lifestyle, moving every 2 to 3 years during childhood while traveling back and forth from the States and Mexico. As an early adult, she decided to move to San Francisco to immerse herself in public art and with intention to find community. Becoming involved with Precita Eyes through an internship with Susan Cervantes, a Master Muralist, who mentored PAO through monumental restorations, mosaics, and mural projects.

After PAO’s internship was complete, she continued to be involved with Precita Eyes by volunteering, leading to opportunities and starting a long term partnership with Precita Eyes. Currently the Education Director PAO has dedicated her work to making art accessible to all, encouraging change in social structures for more creative spaces.