Today we’d like to introduce you to Annie Hejny.
Hi Annie, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’m a professional visual artist and certified Nature and Forest Therapy Guide. I’ve always loved being outside — swimming in lakes, biking beneath the trees and wandering along trails —and I was raised to value time in nature, in simple and significant ways. I’ve always had a love of art and creativity, which evolved into my vocation ten years ago now.
In my early years as a professional artist, I returned to the familiarity of being in nature for inspiration. Living in St. Paul at that time, the Mississippi River offered its presence to me. In June 2015, my collaboration with the Mississippi River began when I first collected river water for my paintings. Not knowing what would emerge, but trusting the voice of the river to move through me, I returned to my studio with the collected water. I recalled the luminous reflections and the strong, steady flow as I poured the water, combined with acrylic paint, over the canvas. And with that, my painting technique emerged. Since those first poured paintings, I have developed an extensive body of work comprising of more than one hundred original pieces with collected water and sediment from significant Midwest freshwater sources.
My paintings, drawings, sculptures and bark installations have been exhibited in many solo and group exhibitions and my largest solo exhibition to date at the Minnesota Marine Art Museum in Winona, MN received over 10,000 visitors. Additionally, my artwork can be found in the permanent collections of the Minnesota Museum of American Art, Minnesota Vikings Art Collection, Target Corporation, Hilton Corporation, and Minnesota Marine Art Museum.
What inspires me today has the same threads that originally brought me to the shoreline — awe and gratitude. Acknowledging that all humans are bodies of water, and are connected by water, is the primary message of my artistic practice. Each painting represents our deep relationship with water, and is a call to tell the water stories in our community.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The life of an artist is unpredictable. Early in my years as an emerging artist, it was challenging to find my authentic voice and share my deepest truths with the public. Once I began to reconnect with my relationship with the earth and the water, I then realized I had a story to tell and a way to connect with others.
Finding this meaningful way to connect within the community has been my greatest challenge. As a solo artist, I have to make an intentional effort to reach out, show up, listen and share with other artists and community members. It’s an important part of living a creative life because it energizes me and reminds me I’m not alone. I’m grateful to my art community and my Patrons who continue to cheer me on and support me on this art journey.
Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Along with creating new artwork for exhibitions, I consistently work on commissioned projects that celebrate the natural landscapes in my clients’ lives. To date, I’ve completed over 70 custom artworks for private collections, galleries and public institutions, locally and nationwide.
Working together, I’ll guide you through all the project decisions including style, sizing, color, and installation. This process is tailored to fit your interest, budget, and inspiration. It’s personal, collaborative and fun! I’ve worked on projects with collected freshwater and sediment from across the world including the headwaters of the Mississippi River (MN) the Platte River (NE), the Colorado River (TX), Hudson River (NY) and the Lahn River (Germany). I’d love to connect with anyone who has a special lake, river, tree or trail and wants to bring that place into their home or workspace through a custom piece of art.
What are your plans for the future?
Starting in January 2023, I’ll be working towards a certification as a Minnesota Water Steward with Freshwater and the Mississippi Watershed Management Organization. I intend to weave this training and new knowledge about improving water health directly into my artistic practice. This is an important next step as a water-inspired artist and a responsible citizen in the community. With new insights into water science and policy, I hope to deepen conversations within my community to include direct calls for real, actionable steps that each can be taken. Ultimately, I hope this experience will inspire something new with my painting techniques to share with you.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.anniehejny.com
- Instagram: @anniehejny
Image Credits
Jerry Mathiason
Jeff Cords
Marko Zitzer
Abigail Penders
Pat Berry
