Location #10

Kara Maloney

Mixed Media

Exhibit Location

Kara Maloney
209 Coffee St.
Lanesboro MN 55949

Contact Information

Kara Maloney, Artist Bio

Kara Maloney is a rural advocate, artist, and community leader. In addition to activating the people and places of Lanesboro, MN through the arts as Lanesboro Arts Executive Director, Kara volunteers as a board member for the Southeastern Minnesota Arts Council and the Lanesboro Area Chamber of Commerce. She grew up in Minneapolis and for the last eight years has made Lanesboro (pop.715) home. Kara graduated from Luther College with Studio Art and Business Management degrees. She is a driving force for arts education and emerging artists across the region.

In exploring her own artistic practice, Kara draws inspiration from Scandinavian rosemaling, and has a penchant for painting, printmaking, and collage.

“Rosemaling has always been a part of my life, my grandparents were Norwegian and spoke Norwegian. Their house was decorated with rosemaled items and that influenced my mother to become a rosemaler. When I was growing up my mother had a studio where she created rosemaled pieces,” Kara shared. Graduating from Luther College, she noticed throughout her college career her art reflected that Scandinavian influence. Kara continued, “I recently participated in an online rosemaling class through the Vesterheim Norwegian American Museum’s Folk Art school. These classes introduced me to the fine art skills of rosemaling and also sparked a passion to share this art form.”

Now after taking classes, she is interested in continuing to explore traditional rosemaling techniques as well as push the boundaries of the art form. She aims to add a contemporary flare to her work. She does this through using bright colors and a variety of media such as collage, chalk colored pencils, acrylic paint, and charcoal.