Luzia Ornelas

Luzia Ornelas has played a pivotal role in evolving DAVA’s film and digital media programming, expanding opportunities for youth to explore storytelling through technology.

Through her leadership, she has cultivated meaningful partnerships with the Community College of Aurora Cinematic Arts Program and the Askkanwii Filmmaking Hub Incubator, creating pathways for students to gain hands-on experience with industry tools and mentorship.

Her work equips aspiring filmmakers with transferable skills in collaboration, communication, and creative problem-solving, helping prepare them for an increasingly competitive job market.

Director of Arts & Technology

Luzia Justina Hirai Ornelas began her artistic journey studying Art Education at the Centro Universitário Belas Artes de São Paulo in 1995, followed by Fine Arts studies at Universidade Paulista de São Paulo (UNESP), Brazil. She later earned a BFA in Digital Media from Metropolitan State University of Denver and completed an MFA in Digital Media and Integrated Arts at the University of Colorado Boulder.

As a time-based media artist, Luzia explores sensorial technologies as extensions of the body, merging them with coding languages to create interactive experiences. Her work amplifies the physicality of human experience and memory, opening new aesthetic possibilities across time and space.

For more than 17 years, Luzia has dedicated herself to teaching digital media at DAVA, empowering students of all ages, particularly those without prior access to technology. Through hands-on instruction, she has guided many students toward careers in computer science, architecture, engineering, filmmaking, healthcare, and other creative and technical fields. Her teaching philosophy centers on helping each student discover their unique voice through digital media, including illustration, photography, video, documentary, animation, and film.

By introducing tools such as Scratch, SketchUp, GIMP, open-source platforms, and Adobe Creative Cloud programs, Luzia supports learners from diverse backgrounds in developing visual communication skills, critical thinking, and innovative problem-solving.

Managing the Computer Art Lab for nearly two decades has strengthened her role as an educator, mentor, and artist. The lab’s vibrant community of students, families, and collaborators continues to inspire her and makes DAVA a unique space for creative learning and expression.