Artist, researcher, educator, and writer, Trena Noval’s creative work engages participatory research strategies, generosity, cross-disciplinary platforms, and social engagement. At the heart, her work investigates the intersections of social and natural ecologies. Collaboration is a key part of her process, exploring the role of collective thinking and actions, forming momentary and ongoing communities of mutual practice and dialogue to engage in important issues of our time.

Her work has been engaged internationally including Chennai Biennale, India, the Exploratorium and Yerba Buena Center in San Francisco, and through public commissions including the City of San Jose, the City of Santa Rosa, and Montalvo Arts Center, and in India and the UK. She was a professor of interdisciplinary studio and public practice at California Collage of the Arts, retiring in 2021. Her recent public commission, one day/one action, funded by the City of San Jose Public Art and Environmental Services Division, engaged communities across the City to explore personal and collective climate awareness and actions. Her community centered design research collaboration, Fluid Cities, was published in the book TANGIBLE–INTANGIBLE HERITAGE(S)–DESIGN, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL CRITIQUES ON THE PAST, PRESENT AND THE FUTURE, by Cambridge Press, UK, in 2022.