Page 62 - South Mississippi Living - October, 2025

From Center the
Ring to Canvas
the art oF wanda aZZario-goldberg
Story by Cherie Ward Photos courtesy of Wanda Azzario-Goldberg
When Wanda Azzario-Goldberg was young, she did what so many only dream of—she ran away with the circus. Following her heart, she stepped into a world of sequins, spotlight, and daring acrobatic roller skating that would define her next 35 years.
“I fell in love with the whole way of life,” she said. “It wasn’t just performing, it was living and breathing the circus every day. When I retired, it left a huge void.”
wanda and alan
That intermission eventually led her back to her first love—the arts. Before stepping into the center ring, Azzario-Goldberg studied painting and jewelry design at Central Saint Martins in London. When the curtain fell on her circus career, she returned to her brushes and canvases. “Art filled that gap inside me,” she explained. “I’ve been painting ever since, and now I’ve been a full-time professional artist for nine years.”
Through her brand, Art by WAG, Azzario-Goldberg translates
a lifetime of performance into bold acrylics that shimmer with personality. Her paintings often take the form of diptychs, unfolding like chapters in a story, each one drawn from memory, imagination, or the vibrant people, animals, and places she’s encountered. Bright hues dominate her palette, pulling the viewer into a world that feels whimsical, theatrical, and alive.
Much of her inspiration is rooted in the extraordinary past she carries with her. “A lot of it comes from memories—animals, photographs I’ve saved, even flashes from 35 years of my life in the circus,” she said. “But I’m also exploring new directions, more subdued colors, and scenes from my childhood in England. It’s a different phase, and I’m really enjoying it.”
Her artistic journey has been just as global as her circus days.
Find art by wag
Booth #687
62 | October 2025