our members
Support Minnesota Creatives
Alberta Mirais
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): Visual Arts: Painting & Illustration, and Music: Songwriting & Performing in a lounge duo
Personal Statement: I am a painter who specializes in bright, bold portraits of people & pets, as well as still lifes, plein air, and city scapes. I also write songs and sing in a lounge duo called Holiday. I’m in my twentieth year as a working artist and aim to continue this career as long as I can hold a paintbrush, because creating and engaging in the arts is my deepest passion.
Email: AlbertaMirais@gmail.com
www.albertamirais.com
Instagram: albertamirais
Facebook: albertamirais
Amy Coulombe
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): Painting and drawing
Email: AlbertaMirais@gmail.com
www.silvergirlart.com
Instagram: silvergirlart
Facebook: silvergirlart
amy mester
Chapter Affiliation: St Paul Premier
Creative Discipline(s): Painting & Drawing, Fibers & Soft Goods, Bookbinding, Polymer Clay
Personal Statement: My artistic practice is vast and varied, and takes ample inspiration from the natural world. Coming from both an artistic and scientific educational background, much of my work centers around shapes and patterns found in nature. From bags to books to bread, I am utilizing my creativity in all facets of my life, and find joy in the challenge of puzzles and problem solving.
Email: amy.mestermind@gmail.com
www.amymester.com
Instagram: mestermind
Chad Augustin
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): Upright & electric bass, drawing, oil painting, sculpting, 2D animation
Personal Statement: I'm a musician and visual artist working in oil paint, sculpture, 2D animation, photography, and the hair arts - I'm a Barber with my own shop in Uptown Minneapolis. I play bass in a duo called Holiday.
Email: topchopbarber@gmail.com
Instagram: topchopbarber
Daniel Culhane
Chapter Affiliation: St Paul Premier
Creative Discipline(s): Musician, bassist, arranger
Personal Statement: Dan Culhane is a bass player from the twin cities. His powerful lines have graced the likes of J-mo and the J-lighters, The Unfinished Products, Hunny Bear, and the Eastern River Cooters.
Email: Dculhane307@gmail.com
Instagram: Culhaned
heather renne
Chapter Affiliation: MAG Founder
Creative Discipline(s): oils, assemblage, sculpture, creative writing
Personal Statement: Focusing mainly on oil portraiture but also exploring the joys of a long term architectural sculpture project that combines all of my creative interests.
www.InkyJaneStudios.com
Instagram: heatherrenne
Facebook: InkyJaneStudios
Hilary Greenstein
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): painting, mixed media
Personal Statement: I am a figurative- abstract painter making works on canvas and velvet.
Email: hilarygreenstein@gmail.com
www.hilarygreenstein.com
Instagram: hilarygreensteinart
Jan Dufault
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): painting, acrylic
Email: janrdufault@gmail.com
https://janrdufault9.wixsite.com/jandufault
Facebook: shoutart
Instagram: shoutartbyjandufault
Katelyn Mariah
Chapter Affiliation: St Paul Premier
Creative Discipline(s): watercolor, writing
Personal Statement: I have been an artist since I was a child. I have a BFA from the U of M and a degree in art therapy. My artwork is visionary. I have show in galleries around Minnesota as well as participating in shows in Austria, Spain and Bali. I am an award winning author of 8 books including three children’s books.
Email: Mystickcreekpublishing@gmail.com
Phone: 651-955-3673
Mystickcreekpublishing@gmail.com
www.katelynmariahvisionaryartist.com
Instagram: katelynmariahvisionaryartist
Kenneth Rooker
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): Illustration, Motion Graphics, Drawing, Art Direction, Graphic Design
Personal Statement: I trained at the Philadelphia University of the Arts, in Graphic Design and Illustration disciplines. In New York, I designed for agencies, MLB.com, and Condé Nast Publications. Locally , I've worked with Star Tribune's marketing arm, headed Juxtaposition Arts youth graphics lab, and served as an adjunct teacher with the North Hennepin Community College design faculty focused on project based learning and aesthetics training.
Email: kenrooker1@gmail.com
Phone: 6124083081
https://kenrooker1.wixsite.com/mysite/art-direction-main
LinkedIn: Ken Rooker
Leanne Hanson
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): painting
Personal Statement: I share nature's joy in my oil paintings with radiance, vibrancy and light.
Email: leannehansonart@gmail.com
www.leannehansonart.com
Instagram: leannehansonart
Facebook: leannehansonart
YouTube: leannehansonart
Lili Lennox
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): murals, painting
Personal Statement: Experienced large-scale muralist enjoying the exploration of smaller-scale fine art.
Email: lili@gildedlili.com
www.lililennox.com
Instagram: gildedlili
Lisa Arnold
Chapter Affiliation: St Paul Premier
Creative Discipline(s): Painting, mosaics, print-making, masks, nature art
Personal Statement: Lisa is an art mutt who specializes in painting contemporary gouache florals, community mosaic murals, artivism, masks, and teaching. She did her doctoral studies in theatre, art, and social change at the U of M, where she also taught. At UST she taught theatre and film, and founded the Slam Poetry Club, taking the team to Nationals. When she discovered mosaics, she didn’t quite finish her dissertation, but has led 100+ community mosaic projects over 20 years. She often teaches and leads residencies through COMPAS. During isolation, she taught herself to paint and is thoroughly in love with gouache. She works out of her home studio and is represented by Art Resources Gallery.
Bluesky: Studioarnoldo
Lucy Sinkkonen
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): painter
Personal Statement: Born in Duluth, Minnesota, Lucy’s childhood travels spanned around South America, Canada, and Europe, offering her a broad perspective from a young age. Currently based in St. Paul, MN, she is studying architecture.
With her roots in Finnish ancestry and a family background in craftsmanship, Lucy developed a passion for hands-on form-making and painting. Inspired by the natural world and spirit, she seeks to capture their essence through distilled art forms and playful experimentation. With different textures in pastels, modeling paste, gesso and acrylic I create pieces that evoke organic patterns of nature and the spirit of movement.
Email: lucysinkkonen@gmail.com
www.lucysinkkonen.com
Instagram: paintingsbylucyy
lukas carlson
Chapter Affiliation: St Paul Premier
Creative Discipline(s): painter
Personal Statement: I am an artist and painter currently working out of Studio North in Minneapolis. I graduated with my BFA from UW - Eau Claire and my MFA from MCAD.
www.lukascarlson.com
Instagram: lukascarlsonartist
Madison Nelmark
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): ceramics, oil and acrylic painting, printmaking, crochet, drawing
Personal Statement: Mostly working in ceramics and oil paint but use multiple mediums to explore the human figure, ancient literary themes, queerness, and femininity.
Email: madisonnelmark@gmail.com
Instagram: madisonnelmark
Mandy Stringer
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): ceramics, graphic design
Personal Statement: My education background includes a BFA in Graphic design and an MAFA in Ceramics, perhaps the most polar opposite of mediums. My ceramic work explores this paradox by blending traditional craftsmanship with modern technology using digital media to tell stories and create meaningful experiences. By merging old and new techniques, I aim to spark reflection, evoke emotion, and transform functional pieces into something deeply experiential. My art bridges the past and present, creating a dialogue between tradition and innovation.
www.luluandcomsp.com
Instagram: luluandcomsp
Marcy Hokenson
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): marker art, acrylic painting, tie dye, handwoven wall hangings, painted furniture
Personal Statement: I use black ink pen and markers to create abstract and unusual art, tending to the surreal or psychedelic. Many of my images come to me in my dreams, and they are abstract, so I struggle to represent them. I use acrylic paints for the fluidity I need in expressing these nebulous images.
Weaving fulfills my need to create texture, and is a great winter pastime.
I also tie dye and especially appreciate the canvas of a large tapestry. The diffusion of colors brings me great joy.
Email: mlhokenson@hotmail.com
Phone: 612 670-5724
www.nemaa.org/artists/marcy-hokenson/
www.etsy.com/shop/funkyartandtiedye
Instagram: funkyartandtiedye
Megan McNinch
Chapter Affiliation: St Paul Premier
Creative Discipline(s): Visual artist. Drawing, painting, and printmaking.
Personal Statement: I am a visual artist located in Saint Paul, MN. Drawing is the foundation of my practice but I am also a painter and a printmaker. One of my main sources of inspiration is natural forms that speak to the passage of time and its continuous cycles. In my work I hope to create and utilize a visual language that feels both novel and familiar.
Email: mmcninchart@gmail.com
www.mmcninch.com
Instagram: meganmcninchart
Melissa Kugler
Chapter Affiliation: St Paul Premier
Creative Discipline(s): Watercolor, acrylic
Personal Statement: I am a visual artist located in Saint Paul, MN. Drawing is the foundation of my practice but I am also a painter and a printmaker. One of my main sources of inspiration is natural forms that speak to the passage of time and its continuous cycles. In my work I hope to create and utilize a visual language that feels both novel and familiar.
Email: m_kugs@msn.com
Instagram: bymelissakugler
Meranda Turbak
Chapter Affiliation: St Paul Premier
Creative Discipline(s): painting, drawing
Www.Merandaturbak.com
Instagram: merandaturbak
Facebook: MerandaTurbak
Mitchell Fisher
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): Arycrillic painting, charcoal, soft pastels
Personal Statement: I'm 34 year old, father of 1, single parent. Army vet, college grad and active church member
Email: mpalmfisher@gmail.com
Phone: 5073038371
Snapchat: palmfisher20
Patrizia Vignola
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): drawing, painting, visual arts
Personal Statement: My artistic interests have always been rooted in the human form, more specifically with faces. Despite my adeptness at capturing likenesses, my work extends beyond traditional portraiture into the genre of contemporary surrealism. The goal is to delve deeper into more emotional, and philosophical dimensions. My fascination and use of Elizabethan ruff collars has transcended mere ornamentation and manifests as a symbol of personal significance. My work is a critical examination of society, socioeconomic status, the long-term effects of birth circumstance and childhood trauma. It explores themes such as identity and expectations and provokes thoughts on interconnectedness and the human experience.
Email: patriziazia@gmail.com
www.patriziavignola.com
Facebook: patrizia.vignola.7
Instagram: patriziazia
Paul Fosaaen
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): acrylic, watercolor
Personal Statement: I’m an abstract painter living in Minneapolis, MN. I primarily focus on three-dimensional abstract paintings in acrylic, and I occasionally do surrealist still life painting in watercolor.
Email: paulfosaaenart@gmail.com
www.paulfosaaen.com
Linktree: paulfosaaen
patti walsh
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): painting
Personal Statement: I’m an abstract artist living in South Minneapolis. My work is bold and emotive and sometimes I don’t know where it comes from! My desire is to connect with audiences on an emotional level and reach their hearts.
www.pattiwalsh66.com
Instagram: pattiwalsh67
Rebecca Pirko
Chapter Affiliation: St Paul Premier
Creative Discipline(s): polymer clay, songwriting, poetry, painting
Personal Statement: Hello! I am inspired deeply by the world around us. My music comes to me in moments of stillness and flow. My polymer clay art started way sooner, I’ve been doing that since the age of 10. It allows me to sculpt my favorite creatures, and keep a whimsical energy. I like to infuse natural, environmental, and spiritual themes into my work.
Email: pirkopalooza@gmail.com
Phone: 507-923-3445
Instagram: pirkopalooza
Spencer Madsen
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): Stories and Scripts; Sculpture and Textured Art; Paints and Pastels
Personal Statement: Spencer writes, sketches, draws, paints, carves, and sculpts alongside a couple rescue dogs in their forever home studio space just outside Clear Lake, MN. He cherishes opportunities to explore and discover new methods, materials, and muses.
Email: spencer@clearlakecider.com
www.clearlakecider.com
Steven Michels-Boyce
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): painting, pottery
Personal Statement: My painting is expressive, impulsive and spontaneous. My work is inspired by children who creatively express themselves honestly and uniquely through their artwork. In my work, I attempt to let the brush lead rather than the brain.
Email: sjohnemby@gmail.com
Phone: 612-205-0769
Instagram: sjemby
Tugba
Chapter Affiliation: St Paul Premier
Creative Discipline(s): visual arts, watercolor, marbling, digital, mixed media
Personal Statement: Tuğba Öztürk, born and raised in Istanbul, Turkey, has been working with watercolor for six years, participating in exhibitions. In 2021, she moved to the U.S. to expand her artistic reach.
For her, watercolor is the most intimate way to express emotions—fluid like feelings themselves. The female figure in her work symbolizes her existential struggle against a repressive society.
Her art explores philosophical themes from nihilism to existentialism, inviting viewers to find reflections of themselves in her paintings. Through color and movement, she externalizes deep emotions, embracing the fluidity of thought and experience.
Email: tugba@rzeszutek.co
Instagram: colorifybytugba
Vas Littlecrow Wojtanowicz
Chapter Affiliation: St Cloud (pending)
Creative Discipline(s): Multidisciplinary Artist
Personal Statement: Vas Littlecrow Wojtanowicz is a queer Boricua cat grandparent, founder of Velvet Rasputin LLC and a multidisciplinary lyrical trash artist residing in Rice, MN. Vas uses identity, nature, garbage and technology to explore and push the boundaries of creativity. In spite of a cantankerous exterior, Vas enjoys building bridges between people of diverse belief systems, cultures and genders. Recent accomplishments include a painting being selected for MAG’s Micro Art Collection, placing second in the 2024 Lake Country Journal poetry competition, developing a sustainable sensory tool for Lyricality and running their first writer’s retreat.
https://velvetrasput.info/
https://vaslittlecrow.com/
Bluesky: velvetrasputin
YouTube: vaslittlecrow
Comicfury: vaslittlecrow
Soundcloud: vaslittlecrow
Goodreads: vas littlecrow wajtanowicz
Vittorio
Chapter Affiliation: Minneapolis Premier
Creative Discipline(s): musician
Personal Statement: Vittorio is Italian. He moved to Minneapolis in 2008 with his young family after living 2 years in Bergen (Norway) and 8 years in London (UK). Vittorio visited or traveled for work to over 60 countries until covid reset everything and an unexpected new space became available to listen and channel his emotions. Lost in Space, Vittorio’s first song, came out during a bike ride in the spring of 2020; he now has over 40 songs that he performs solo or with his band at every possible opportunity.
www.vittorioandthebridges.com
Email: vittorior@gmail.com
Phone: 6126072002
Instagram: vittorioandthebridges
Facebook: vittorioandthebridges