Conversations with Amanda Rose

Today we’d like to introduce you to Amanda Rose.

Hi Amanda, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I grew up in the quiet, residential city of Lauderdale, not far from the Minnesota State Fairgrounds. This proximity to the fairgrounds has allowed me to go to the fair almost every year since 1999, my birth year. As a child, I also attended many art fairs and events around the Twin Cities. I come from a multicultural family and have always had a strong interest in arts and culture. My mother is an immigrant from Jamaica, and my father is a European-American. Every holiday meal features a mixture of Jamaican dishes and American classics. It was interesting growing up as a mixed-race child in Minnesota, and I always felt eager to discover new ideas and perspectives. Thankfully, I was lucky to have supportive parents who encouraged all of my creative interests. I created many picture books and watercolor paintings throughout my childhood. My interest in drawing people increased around age 10. Today, portraiture is a crucial part of my practice.

I continued developing my artistic skills throughout junior high and high school at Great River School in St. Paul. I am especially grateful for the guidance from Great River’s IB Visual Art teachers, Randi McClure and Laura Machacek. I pursued a Bachelor of Arts degree at St. Olaf College and graduated in May 2021 with studio art and art history degrees. I received excellent mentorship and advice from Professor Hannah Ryan and Jane Becker Nelson, Director of the Flaten Art Museum. I was also supported by St. Olaf’s amazing TRIO McNair program, and they taught me about the graduate school application process. I applied for Master of Fine Arts (MFA) programs in hopes of continuing my educational journey. One of my goals is to teach college-level art classes eventually. I am currently a student in the MFA program at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design. I am grateful to be expanding my art practice and acquiring new teaching skills at MCAD!

We all face challenges, but looking back, would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
A big part of completing my bachelor’s degree and pursuing grad school was learning how to handle criticism. I try to learn from the negative and positive feedback, but it is okay if I don’t take some of the feedback to heart. I aim to listen to what people say without feeling discouraged, and I try to remind myself that not everyone will enjoy and appreciate my work. My main goal is to inspire young people to follow their creative dreams. As long as I can connect with people, I think I can find happiness through my work. It has also been challenging to decide what type of art I want to create as a professional. This is a decision that I am still constantly struggling with. Even so, I am only 22 years old, and I recognize that my work will probably change as I continue to learn and grow over time.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I am a visual artist and curator based in Minneapolis. My work focuses on cultural identity, gender, and the environment. I mainly work in drawing, painting, illustration, digital media, mixed media, and installation. I enjoy observing and capturing the diversity and beauty that people bring to our world. My work allows me to express and communicate my emotions, and creating art has been a constant source of joy in my life!

Through my creative practice, I aim to share my thoughts and experiences and to increase representation for people from marginalized backgrounds. I use my portraits as a platform to share the voices of people who are often silenced. Some of these individuals include people of color, members of the LGBTQA+ community, people with disabilities, under-resourced communities, and other subjects. I want to create children’s books someday to use them as a medium for sharing inspiring stories. I am also curious about the relationship between people and plants and how plants become an important part of our memories of childhood. Soon, I hope to create portraits of people alongside plants from their homelands or their current homes.

I am best known for FRUIT, a series of paintings consisting of oil and acrylic paint on masonite. These series depict four youthful women alongside fresh fruits. The fruits include pears, lemons, watermelons, and plums. The relationship between the figures and the fruit emphasizes fertility, beauty, and femininity themes. The original reference images were stock photos of women from the internet. However, I created this series to give these women a new, alternative reality outside the commercials.

I am most proud of my work as co-curator of UPRISING: Narrating Black Presence and Expression on the Hill in 2019-2020 and 2020-2021. UPRISING is an art exhibition at St. Olaf College that celebrates Black history and culture through the fine arts and narrates the experiences of Black people. As co-curator of the show for two years, I had the opportunity to form connections with faculty, staff, and other students. It was an incredible experience building an artist community, curating the show, and sharing our artwork with the St. Olaf community. I plan to continue curating and participating in art shows to foster community and create a positive impact.

What matters most to you?
I strive to be the change I want to see in the world. This involves using my art to engage with society and promote positive change. I am constantly looking for opportunities to connect with people and to help children and under-resourced people connect with their creative abilities. I also hope that sharing diverse stories from different cultures will encourage people to notice our many similarities as humans. I want viewers to look at my portraits and feel empowered and united in their identities, despite our differences.

Pricing:

• Contact for pricing info

Contact Info:

• Website: https://amandaroseartist.com/
• Instagram: instagram.com/manda.art
• Other: https://www.behance.net/amandarose

Image Credits