Aura Copeland From Lithuania to Miami: A Designer’s Journey Through Art and Community

A Life of Art, Design, and Community: How Aura Copeland Turned Passion Into Purpose

Photo Credit: Aquiles Merchan Shields

An Artist’s Awakening in Lithuania

For Aura Copeland, art has always been more than a profession—it’s been a lifeline. Born and raised in Telsiai, Lithuania, her earliest teachers recognized her artistic talent and nurtured it. But it was a profound personal loss—the passing of her father when she was just sixteen—that turned her creative passion into a calling. A mentor stepped in at that pivotal moment, inspiring Aura to consider art not merely as a pastime but as her future. She poured her energy into preparing for entrance exams at a local design school. That commitment led her to the Academy of Arts in Vilnius, where she immersed herself in rigorous academic drawing and the time-honored traditions of classical art. It was an experience that laid a solid foundation, one that still informs her work today.

A Leap Across the Ocean: The New York Chapter

Driven by an unquenchable curiosity, Aura eventually set her sights on New York. There, she embarked on a new journey at the Fashion Institute of Technology, focusing on footwear design—a field that perfectly married her background in architecture with her love of artistic expression.

For Aura, shoes were never just about fashion. They were small sculptures, architectural puzzles to be solved with every sketch and every prototype. Each design, like a miniature building, had to balance form, function, and beauty.

Building Community Through Art and Charity

While working in the footwear industry, Aura’s passion for art found another outlet: community service. She founded Les Couleurs Charity, a nonprofit dedicated to bringing arts education to orphaned children in countries like Haiti, Nepal, and Mexico. For years, she juggled these dual passions, designing shoes while championing creative opportunities for underserved communities.

Her commitment to social impact revealed another dimension of her artistry: a belief that creativity could transform lives and uplift communities.

Planting Roots in Miami’s Cultural Scene

When Aura moved to Miami, she found a city alive with creative energy, but lacking platforms for emerging artists. She saw an opportunity to change that. Opening her first gallery in Downtown Miami two and a half years ago was both a bold move and a natural evolution.

Her gallery quickly became a launchpad for young, up-and-coming artists, many of whom were exhibiting their work for the first time. Aura poured her heart into creating a space where ideas flourished, talents blossomed, and the city’s cultural identity could grow.

Today, Aura Copeland Contemporary stands as a testament to her vision: a place where local and international artists share a stage, where collaborations thrive, and where Miami’s artistic community is celebrated and empowered. Plans are already underway for a third location, proof that Aura’s commitment to the arts is just getting started.

Footwear Design: Where Architecture Meets Art

Though much of her time is now dedicated to her galleries, Aura remains deeply connected to the world of footwear design, a passion that continues to fuel her creative spirit. She still partners with select clients, traveling to their offices to collaborate on seasonal collections that push boundaries and set trends. For Aura, this process is not just about creating shoes, but about bringing artistry to every step of the design journey: analyzing trend forecasts, researching innovative materials, and sketching side by side with design teams who share her relentless drive for excellence.

Her background in architecture, years spent studying form, space, and structure, has deeply influenced her approach to footwear. Where others see shoes as mere accessories, Aura sees them as small but powerful works of art. The transition from buildings to shoes might seem like a leap to some, but for Aura, the principles remain strikingly similar: solving design problems, balancing function with aesthetics, and crafting something that’s not only beautiful but meaningful.

Every shoe she designs carries the imprint of her architectural mindset: thoughtful proportions, unexpected details, and a commitment to both form and function. It’s this unique perspective that sets her apart in the competitive world of footwear, and keeps her creations both timeless and cutting-edge.

Finding the Human Story: Editor and Interviewer

Aura’s love for storytelling has always been part of her artistic DNA. Years ago, while still running her nonprofit, she began visiting artists’ studios and collecting their stories. Each studio visit felt like entering a new world, one filled with inspiration, struggle, and triumph.

That passion led her to launch a blog that highlighted these artists and their journeys. Today, her editorial work, whether through written interviews or her podcast, reflects that same dedication to amplifying creative voices. She seeks out narratives that go beyond the surface, capturing the humanity behind the art.

Facing Challenges with Courage

Like many artists and entrepreneurs, Aura’s path hasn’t been without its share of challenges. One of the biggest hurdles she faced was navigating uncertainty, especially in the early days of opening her first gallery. Without a clear roadmap, she relied on intuition, experimentation, and a willingness to learn by doing.

Through trial and error, she found her rhythm: discovering what works, what doesn’t, and how to invest her time wisely. Despite the unknowns, she embraced each challenge as an opportunity for growth, and committed herself to giving every endeavor her absolute best.

A Memorable Debut and Beyond

Among the many projects that have marked her career, one stands out: her very first exhibition. It was a solo show for Isabella Mebarak, a young artist whose talent and spirit resonated deeply with Aura. As the niece of the global superstar Shakira, Isabella brought a certain excitement to the opening night. But for Aura, the true magic was in championing Isabella’s creative voice and helping her step confidently onto the artistic stage.

That show marked not just the beginning of Aura’s gallery journey, but the start of a legacy of nurturing new talent.

Words of Wisdom for Emerging Creatives

For aspiring artists, Aura offers heartfelt advice: step out of your comfort zone. Don’t isolate yourself in a creative bubble, connect with other artists, explore galleries, and seek inspiration from different cultures and communities.

Stay curious. Keep refining your craft. Embrace every opportunity to learn and grow. And most importantly, treat your career with the seriousness it deserves. Be informed, be engaged, and never stop evolving.

A Legacy in the Making

From the classrooms of Lithuania to the bustling galleries of Miami, Aura Copeland’s journey is one of courage, creativity, and community. Her life’s work is a testament to the transformative power of art, how it can heal, inspire, and unite.

As she continues to shape Miami’s cultural landscape, one thing is clear: Aura’s story is still being written. And every chapter promises to be as inspiring as the last.

Interview with  Aura Copeland

What inspired you to pursue careers in footwear design, art, and publishing? My artistic journey began in my childhood. From an early age, my teachers recognized my natural talent and passion for art. But only after my father’s passing, at 16 year old I met a mentor who inspired me to pursue art as my future. I was in 11th grade, facing a major decision about what to study at university. Preparing for entrance exams at a local design school in my hometown of Telsiai, Lithuania, was challenging, but it marked the start of a more serious commitment to my artistic path. A year later, I applied to study Architecture at the Academy of Arts in Vilnius, Lithuania. After being accepted, I spent two and a half years there, and the experience was invaluable. The rigorous academic drawing and the traditional, old-school approach of the Academy gave me a strong foundation in the arts that has stayed with me throughout my career.

Several years later, I moved to New York, where I earned a degree in footwear design at Fashion Institute of Technology. Upon graduation, I dove straight into the footwear industry, working as a designer. Around the same time, I founded a nonprofit organization, Les Couleurs Charity, which provided arts education to orphaned children in countries like Haiti, Nepal, and Mexico. I ran the charity for several years, until about a year ago.

When I opened my first gallery two and a half years ago, in Downtown Miami, I decided to focus all my energy on this new venture. I saw a pressing need for young, emerging artists in Miami to have a platform to showcase their work. My gallery became the first stepping stone for many up-and-coming artists.

Now, my passion is to nurture, support, and create opportunities for young artists. At my second gallery, Aura Copeland Contemporary, we collaborate with a diverse range of artists—both local and international, emerging and established. We are also in the process of opening another location in Downtown Miami. Our goal is to be pioneers in this thriving art scene and help shape the cultural landscape of the area.

About five years ago, while I was still running my nonprofit, I started receiving a lot of donated artwork. We would sell the art to raise money for charity. That’s when I began visiting art studios, going from one to another, meeting different artists. I was completely fascinated by their stories. Each artist felt like entering a whole new world. I absolutely loved that part of the work.

Even today, meeting artists and learning their stories is still one of my favorite things in the world to do.

That passion led me to start a blog where I interviewed artists and shared their stories. Since so many artists from around the world were supporting me and the nonprofit, this blog became my way of saying thank you. It was also a way to spotlight their work and share it with a wider audience.

How do you balance your roles as a designer, gallery owner, and editor?

These days, most of my time and energy is dedicated to running my two galleries Downtown Miami — meeting artists, selecting their work, and curating shows. That’s really where my heart is and what consumes me the most.

In addition to the galleries, I still work with a few long-time clients as shoe designer. I travel to different cities, spend a few weeks at a time working from their offices, and help design new collections for the season. Then I return to the galleries and dive right back into art openings and artist meetings. This is a reminder to myself: to carve out more time for the things that bring me joy and to find a better balance between the creative, the operational, and the deeply personal aspects of this work.

What is your creative process when designing a new footwear collection?

When it comes to shoe design, it’s very much a collaborative process. I typically fly into the company’s offices and work closely with their internal team—many of whom have already done extensive trend research and market analysis. Often, that includes trips to Europe to observe emerging styles and materials firsthand.

By the time I join the process, the groundwork has been laid. That’s when we roll up our sleeves, analyze all the data, and start sketching the new collection for the upcoming season. It’s an intense but rewarding phase, usually lasting about two weeks.

Looking ahead, I’ve been thinking about launching my own shoe line one day. It’s not something I’m rushing into, but it’s definitely on the horizon—a future vision I’m slowly moving toward.

Can you tell us about your art gallery and the kind of work you showcase?

When I opened my first gallery two and a half years ago in Downtown Miami, I made the decision to dedicate all my energy to this new venture. I saw a real and pressing need: young, emerging artists in Miami lacked a platform to showcase their work. That gallery became a launching pad—a first stepping stone—for many up-and-coming artists finding their voice.

Today, my passion lies in nurturing and supporting the next generation of creatives. At my second space, Aura Copeland Gallery, we collaborate with a wide range of artists—local and international, emerging and established. We are also in the process of opening a third location, again in Downtown Miami, as part of our commitment to helping shape the city’s cultural identity.

Our vision is to see Downtown Miami thrive as a true hub for the arts. We want to be at the forefront of that movement: a home for talent, a space where ideas flourish, and a contributor to the city’s creative growth. From hosting art walks to developing new platforms for exposure, we’re here to celebrate artists and be part of something bigger—a vibrant, evolving arts community.

How has your background in art influenced your approach to footwear design?

I spent nine years across three different universities, exploring the many facets of design. Right after high school, I began studying industrial design. From there, I enrolled at the Academy of Art in Vilnius, Lithuania. But midway through, I left Vilnius for New York, where I spent five years studying accessory design.

To many, my path seemed unconventional. People would often ask, “You spent years studying architecture—why are you designing shoes now?” But to me, it’s all deeply connected.

When I think about designing a shoe, it’s actually very similar to architecture. You’re solving design problems. You’re thinking about form and shape, color and texture. The principles are the same—it’s just on a much smaller scale. And unlike architecture, you get to see the final product much faster, which makes the process incredibly satisfying.

Can you tell us about your art gallery and the kind of work you showcase?

As an editor, I’m always searching for a meaningful story to share—something that goes beyond the artwork itself and connects to the human experience behind it.

One of my favorite moments was visiting the Miami studio of Colombian artist Federico Uribe. The space was overwhelming in the best way—filled with giant animal sculptures made from bullets, X-ray paper, surgical instruments, pencils. But what stayed with me wasn’t just the scale or material—it was something he said:

“I like to work with things most people perceive as painful and make them into something beautiful.”

That sentence stayed with me.

I went back to the studio not long after and bought a small bird he had made out of bullets. The bird is perched on a large bullet, delicate yet powerful. It remains one of my favorite pieces of art I own—not just for how it looks, but for what it represents.

What has been the biggest challenge in your career, and how did you overcome it?

The biggest challenge for me has been learning to move forward through uncertainty.

When I opened my first gallery, I honestly had no idea how to run a gallery. But I had to figure it out as I went. There was a lot of trial and error, a lot of experimentation—until I found my rhythm. I discovered what works, what doesn’t, where to invest my time, and where it just isn’t worthwhile.

But more than anything, the hardest part has been doing things without knowing if they’ll succeed. That kind of uncertainty can be incredibly uncomfortable. Still, I always try to remind myself to trust the process. And every step of the way, I commit to giving it my absolute best.

Do you have a favorite project or collaboration that stands out to you?

The most memorable project for me was my very first exhibition—two years ago, the opening show of my first gallery. It was a solo show for Isabella Mebarak, a remarkably talented young artist who also happens to be Shakira’s niece.

Naturally, it was exciting to have a globally famous aunt at the opening night, but what truly made it special was getting to know Isabella on a deeper level—understanding her creative process and being part of the very beginning of her career.

It meant a lot to be the first gallerist to curate her debut solo show. That experience—launching both the gallery and an artist’s journey at the same time—is something I’ll never forget.

What advice would you give to aspiring creatives looking to break into these industries?

The best advice I can give a young artist is: don’t stay in your own bubble. Be aware of what your peers are doing. Go to galleries regularly, engage with other artists, and look for opportunities to collaborate. Always stay curious and keep learning—don’t get stuck doing the same thing just because it feels comfortable.

Keep pushing your practice forward. Refine your craft, explore new ideas, and never stop growing. Travel when you can—see what artists in other parts of the world are creating. Go to art fairs, soak it all in.

If you're serious about your career, treat it that way. Stay informed. Read art publications, sign up for newsletters, follow what’s happening in the art world. The more connected and aware you are, the stronger and more relevant your work will become.