Today we’d like to introduce you to Ellen Mueller
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I grew up in Fargo, ND, and consider myself a boomerang Minnesotan, meaning I went to school at Bemidji State University, then left for about 10 years to pursue grad school and teaching in higher education before I came back. I traveled to University of South Florida in Tampa for my MFA, then popped up to Pueblo, CO for a year, then 5 years in Buckhannon, WV before stopping by Darmouth, MA for a year on my way back to the Twin Cities. Currently, I’m the Director of Programs at Arts Midwest.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
There have been lots of amazing parts of my career as an artist, as well as bumps and turns in the path. Traveling across the country for various jobs is both exciting and exhausting. I’ve been lucky to connect with all sorts of great people as I’ve sampled jobs in teaching and administrating various arts programs. About two years ago, I took the leap from a full-time academic position to a new job in nonprofit grant-making because it offered greater work-life balance. That was a big leap, but one that I’ve ultimately been very satisfied with. It has allowed for more time for my artistic practice and taking care of my health and well-being, so while I miss some parts of academia, it was ultimately the right move for me.
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
My artistic practice is interdisciplinary, ranging from drawings, collages, and videos to participatory installations, sculptures, and zine publishing. I focus on a range of topics and concepts, but often circle back to the environment and critiquing capitalism in its various forms. Additionally, from Minneapolis gardens to the mountains of Iceland, I am very influenced by place, and my work has shifted in response to the wide variety of places I have lived and traveled to over time.
I am known for my zine publishing, which has recently covered topics from edible weeds to creative walking exercises. Others might know my work from the four textbooks I’ve published: Elements and Principles of 4D Art and Design (2016), Remixing and Drawing: Sources, Influences, Styles (2018), Some Social Practice (2020), and Walking as Artistic Practice (2023).
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
I’m pretty risk-adverse, but I’m also driven when it comes to my goals and projects, so I am often working to balance these two impulses. I am an inherent problem-solver, which is often what drives my biggest, or riskiest undertakings, from writing books, creating new bodies of work, or seeking out a new job. If I encounter a situation where something is missing or lacking, I don’t hesitate to start envisioning a solution. Since I was a kid, I have had a knack for breaking problems down into their component parts and addressing them in bite-sized pieces to help avoid becoming overwhelmed. It’s my way of tackling necessary risks.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://ellenmueller.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellenmmueller/
