about

I was born and raised in Elmhurst, IL and never left.  After earning a degree in graphic design from The American Academy of Art in Chicago, I worked in advertising for 5 years. Soon I realized I hated it. So I put down the keyboard and picked up a paintbrush. 

After my first child was born I was fortunate to be able to stay at home to raise my two wonderful and talented children. This also gave me the opportunity to work on my own art and develop into the artist I am today.  I create in a wide range of mediums but my true love is creating pieces from found objects that I rescue from estate sales and thrift stores. I incorporate these once-loved treasures into my paintings, sculptures, jewelry and clothing.

SMITHSONIAN NATIONAL PORTRAIT GALLERY

In 2020 I was accepted into the Outwin 2022 portrait competition. This has allowed me to the wonderful experience of working with the staff in Washington DC to conduct five separate hands-on workshops and activities. With this traveling exhibit I’ve also conducted art workshops at The Orlando Museum of Art and The Grand Rapids Art Museum.

ELMHURST ART MUSEUM

In 2013 I became an art instructor at Elmhurst Art Museum, teaching mixed media art classes for children and adults.  In 2015 I became the Education Programs Coordinator at EAM and began organizing and designing community projects to correspond with each museum exhibition. Each community art installation invites visitors of the museum to come and participate in art making of their own as well as contribute to a large shared installation art piece. Click here to view these projects. Leaving the EAM in 2018 has giving me the time to focus on my own work and build on my current body of work.