Kidist Paulos Asrat has an extensive background in the arts. She has studied film and photography at Ryerson University under Bruce Elder, an experimental filmmaker, and Don Snyder, a photographer. She has had her film and photography exhibited in Canada and Europe. Her contribution to the arts community includes as Board of Director for Trinity Square Video, a non-profit video art organization.
Her visual arts background also covers two years of drawing and painting classes under Toronto artist Michael Jenzen, and with botanical artist Leslie Staple. She has also spent two years studying textile design at the Ontario College of Art and Design.
Her other artistic achievements include ballet training as a young girl, winning a regional prize, and more recently, as a performing member in several dance groups, including a modern dance ensemble. She has studied the piano starting at the age of six, and has given many public performances.
Her professional activity combines the graphic and textile arts. Her textile designs incorporate many of her photographs, drawings and paintings.
She has a broad theoretical and historical knowledge of the arts. Her vision of trying to understand and build upon this art history and theory has enabled her to write many articles on art, society and culture.