Today we’d like to introduce you to Amy Krause .
Hi Amy, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I am an artist who currently lives in Rochester, Minnesota with my husband and three kids. Art and creating have been an important part of my life for as long as I can remember. In high school, I explored art by taking every art class possible as well as independent learning art classes. During this time, I also spent a portion of every summer at an intensive art camp at the University of Wisconsin–River Falls, trying out every medium I could get my hands on. I went on to earn a degree in fine art painting at the University of Wisconsin–Eau Claire. I currently have my own art business, A. Krause Studio LLC, and I am happily creating art for people all across the country. When I’m not in my studio creating, I can be found teaching art classes and workshops for camps, non-profits, and local businesses. My work is available at various locations, including local art fairs, Threshold Arts, Sacred Grounds Coffee House’s Persons with Disabilities and ally-led art store, Paperbacks & Frybread Co., and Etsy. In addition, I have had the honor of creating outdoor murals in partnership with the City of Rochester and local organizations. Some of my work has been featured in Rochester Women Magazine, where I am also a frequent contributor as a food writer and photographer. You can also find my artwork in local art exhibits at various venues. I always seek new modes of connecting with others through art and creative outlets.
Can you talk to us about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
It hasn’t always been a smooth journey, but I am grateful for overcoming hardships and difficulties. It has shaped me into the person I am today. My husband and I were both in college earning our undergraduate degrees at UW-Eau Claire when we became first-time parents. While raising our son and going to school, we worked several part time jobs to make ends meet. It took a lot of dedication and sacrifice, but somehow, we made our hectic schedules work. We both were determined to achieve our goals of earning our degrees together. Looking back, it is sometimes hard to comprehend the grit and dedication it took to balance everything.
A more recent struggle I’ve had to overcome is the deep grief resulting from processing my third child’s medical diagnosis. My husband and I adopted our son from South Korea and weren’t made aware of his Global Developmental Delay until we were in the final months of finalizing everything. The scope of his needs was more severe than we had been prepared for, and I went through several years of grief during this adjustment time. At this time, I did not see a possible future in pursuing my art business as much due to the extreme caregiver burnout I was experiencing. I had no time to properly care for myself, let alone think about having a thriving small business. Ironically, it was through art as therapy that I was able to process some personal trauma from my past and the current life challenges I was facing. This time in my life has taught me more than any other experience. I have learned to become an advocate for mental wellness and the importance of self-care. Art has been a pathway to healing, and my mission is to use art to help others know they are not alone. I am happy to report that my business is currently thriving and growing. I am so glad I kept pursuing my passion for art even when faced with life challenges.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know about your work?
I would describe myself as a heart-centered artist. My work is an outward expression of who I am at my core. It is informed by my experiences and incorporates the many facets of my life. My ultimate goal is to use art to build connections, foster growth, and promote healing. A significant part of my body of work is influenced by my identity as a Korean American transracial adoptee. My experiences with racism have led me to advocate for marginalized communities and promote representation. I desire to use my art to bring awareness to issues of discrimination and inequity. Through art, I have been able to advocate for mental health and wellness. My journey of healing trauma and deep grief has been a catalyst to use art to help others feel less alone. Being a parent to a child with a disability has strengthened my drive to use art to create more diverse, inclusive, and equitable spaces. I want to use art to show others they are seen, heard, and known. Art can bridge the gap across all walks of life to cultivate understanding and spark real change.
We love to hear about any fond memories you have from growing up?
One of my favorite childhood memories was visiting South Korea when I was 13. This was the first time returning to my birth country since my adoption. I traveled with my sister (an adoptee) and my mom with a tour group of other adoptees and their families. I was able to meet my foster mom and visit my adoption agency. We met children who were waiting to be adopted and children living in orphanages. My tour group traveled across the country, where we experienced Korean culture firsthand. This trip had such a lasting impression on me that it instilled a passion for pursuing adoption in the future. That dream came to fruition with my son’s adoption through the exact same agency that I was once adopted through. It has been a full-circle experience in my life.
Contact Info:
- Website: akrausestudio.etsy.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/akrausestudio
- Facebook: facebook.com/akrausestudio
