Vala is born and raised in Iceland. She has lived in the US since 1994. After 8 years in Santa Fe, NM, she relocated to Scottsdale, AZ. Vala Ola’s artistic talent was apparent early on, and from the age of twelve she attended classes drawing models from life. Graduating from the College of Hamrahlid, she furthered her studies at the Icelandic College of the Arts, and later graduated from The Arts Institute in Bournemouth, England. She continues to study the Great masters in museums in the US and Europe.

She won the Icelandic Design Excellence Award for the first time at the age of twenty six. During her studies in England, she placed two entries among the finalists at the Smithsonian Young Illustrator’s Competition. Returning to Iceland, she went on as her country’s sole representative at the Nordic Graphic & Illustration Awards. Moving to the United States in 1994, she changed her focus to portraiture, and found herself booked solid for the next 7 years. Her portraits in oil were created for families and dignitaries alike. Immaculate likeness of her subjects and reverence for the technique of the old masters earned her great recognition in her field. Some of Vala's portrait commissions in oil were a result of a joint venture between her and William Alan Shirley.

Vala rekindled her interest in sculpting with clay after solely painting with oil since 1994. Her inspiration derives from her observation of life. Even the most mundane circumstance we find ourselves in daily will spark an idea. The Flemish artist Vermeer would paint the simple act of pouring milk, elevating it to a moment worth remembering for eternity, in a similar way Vala will look at a moment usually passed by as moment worth noticing. “All we have in life at any given time is the very moment we are living and that moment is of importance.” Vala says. “I would like to inspire myself and others to have awareness and appreciation for our life.”