Biography

I was born in 1981 in Pipestone, MN and grew up and attended high school in Forest Lake, MN.  After high school I attended St. John’s University in Collegeville, MN where I studied philosophy and mathematics.  While in my twenties I served in AmeriCorps for two years in Washington State, taught English in Thailand for one school year, and then moved to Homer, Alaska.  

In 2008 while living in Alaska, I took a painting course from Asia Freeman.  In my final critique from Freeman she suggested that I pursue art more seriously, and that perhaps I should consider an MFA program.  A few months later I returned home to Minnesota. Having taken Freeman’s advice to heart I set out looking for an artistic training program that would be right for me.  I ended up stumbling across the atelier program model, which was unknown to me prior.  It was immediately apparent to me that this would be the correct path.  

In 2010 I began my formal training as an artist, draftsman, and painter at The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts in Minneapolis, MN.  I spent four years at The Atelier studying the drawing and painting methods of the old masters under Dale Redpath and Cyd Wicker.  In the fall of 2015 I began teaching part-time classes at The Atelier.  In 2018 I became an instructor with The Atelier’s full-time program.

My work combines a French Academic drawing foundation with an impressionistic approach to seeing and interpreting color.  I primarily creates still lifes and figure pieces, working mainly in oils.  Much of my work is somber and quiet.  My compositions are simple and mindful, calling the viewer to slow down and dwell within the work and themself.  Through my work I strives to create an experience that is introspective, subtle, complex, and ultimately fulfilling for both myself and the viewer.

I currently live and work out of my studio on a small farm in Isanti County, about 45 minutes north of the Twin Cities.  I continue to teach as a member of the full-time program teaching staff at The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts.

CV

EXHIBITIONs

2023        6th Annual Juried Floral Exhibition

                      Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN

               16th International ARC Salon

                      Art Renewal Center

2022        24th Annual Boston International Fine Art Show (w/Arcadia Contemporary)

                      Boston Center for the Arts, Boston, MA            

                Annual Small Works Show

                      Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN           

                Five and Under

                      Arcadia Contemporary, New York, NY

                Spotlight: Recent Works

                      Arcadia Contemporary, New York, NY

                Artists for The Atelier

                      The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

               Art-A-Whirl

                      Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN

               The Frame Remains the Same

                      Arcadia Contemporary, New York, NY

               L.A. Art Show (w/Arcadia Contemporary)

                      L.A. Convention Center, Los Angeles, CA

2021      Annual Small Works Show           

                      Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN       

              Annual Underground Art Show           

                      The Leader Building, Cambridge, MN       

              Five and Under           

                      Arcadia Contemporary, New York, NY       

              Revival in Oil and Clay           

                      The Grand Hand Gallery, St. Paul, MN       

              Artists for The Atelier           

                      The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN       

              15th International ARC Salon           

                      Art Renewal Center       

               4th Annual Juried Floral Show           

                      Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN       

               47th Annual Northern Lights International Online Juried Art Exhibition           

                      White Bear Center for the Arts, White Bear Lake, MN

2020       Annual Small Works Show           

                      Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN       

               Minnesota State Fair Fine Art Exhibition           

                      Fine Arts Building, Minnesota State Fairground       

               Annual Juried Floral Show           

                      Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MNEXHIBITIONS

2019      Small Group Exhibition           

                      Private Residence, St. Paul, MN       

              Artists for the Atelier           

                      The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN       

              Annual Juried Floral Show           

                      Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN       

             Juried Small Works Show           

                      Studio Pintura, Minneapolis, MN2017       

             Kallos: The Order of Light Group Exhibition           

                      Rogue Buddha Gallery, Minneapolis, MN      

             Larson, Sjodin, Schweiger, Posey Group Exhibition           

                      Riverview Towers, Minneapolis, MN

2016     Larson, Sjodin, Schweiger, Posy Group Exhibition            

                      Chindean Cafe, Minneapolis, MN2014       

             Atelier Full-time Student Show            

                      The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN       

             Riverview Towers Painter’s Process Exhibition            

                      Riverview Towers, Minneapolis, MN

2013     Atelier Full-time Student Show            

                     The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN       

             Riverview Towers Drawing Exhibition            

                     Riverview Towers, Minneapolis MN

2012     Atelier Full-time Student Show           

                     The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis MN       

             Riverview Towers Painting Exhibition            

                     Riverview Towers, Minneapolis, MN2011       

             Atelier Full-time Student Show            

                     The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

EDUCATION

2014     Graduate, The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN   

                     Trained under Dale Redpath, Cyd Wicker, Kim Monahan Dady,Laura Tundel, and Jeff Larson

2008     Kenia Peninsula Community College, Homer AK                 

                     Studied painting under Asia Freeman

2004     BA in Philosophy, St. John’s University, Collegeville, MN

TEACHING

2018 -   Full-Time Program Instructor       

                    The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

2018     Portraiture Course and Basic Drawing and Painting Course       

                    The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN

2017     Basic Drawing Course        

                    Grand Marais Art Colony, Grand Marais, MN   

             Portraiture Course and Basic Drawing and Painting Course       

                    The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN  

2016     Portraiture Course        

                    The Atelier Studio Program of Fine Arts, Minneapolis, MN   

             Basic Drawing Workshop and Basic Figure Drawing Workshop                    

                    Homer Art & Frame Company, Homer, AK   

2014     Oil Painting Workshop        

                    Homer Art & Frame Company, Homer, AK

AWARDS

2023       People's Choice Award

                     Studio Pintura's 6th Annual Juried Floral Show

               2nd Place

                     Studio Pintura's 6th Annual Juried Floral Show

               Finalist, Figurative Category           

                    16th Art Renewal Center International Salon       

               Semi-Finalist, Still Life Category           

                    16th Art Renewal Center International Salon

2021        Finalist, Figurative Category           

                    15th Art Renewal Center International Salon       

                Finalist, Still Life Category           

                    15th Art Renewal Center International Salon

2020        Minnesota Figure Study Collaborative Award           

                     Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition       

                Ron Merchant Award for Oil Painting           

                     Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition

2019        Master Framers Award           

                     Studio Pintura Spring Juried Floral Art Exhibition, St. Paul, MN

*My art business has been designated as a "Trusted Art Seller" with The Art Storefronts Organization, which means you can shop with confidence, and know that I stand behind the quality and value of my products.