Meet Amanda Koss

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

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.
As a kid, I always dreamed of becoming an artist and the dream never faded as I grew older. One memory I have as a child was creating drawings and pinning them up around my bedroom. Then, I would get dressed up in my dress-up clothes which and enter my “gallery” (bedroom) as a collector and my response would be complete awe of the artwork. Growing up I didn’t really know how to follow this dream and it felt unattainable, so I decided to figure out a different career choice. In high school I was placed on the yearbook team which changed my life, it was there where I learned how to use Photoshop and graphic design skills. These skills put me on the path for college to become a graphic designer, which I completed and spent 10 years in the industry. My time in the industry consisted of freelance work, branding for major companies as well as product design. When my youngest son was born in 2014, I decided to leave my career to be a stay-at-home mom. In conjunction with postpartum depression, in 2015 my mom was diagnosed with stage 5 breast cancer. I felt hopeless and useless, my hands felt empty, and my mind was littered with thoughts, questions, and uncertainty. I decided to channel my emotions within art doing something I always thought looked cool, epoxy art. I purchased a 4’x4′ grow tent and constructed it as my art space in my garage, a whole 16 square feet… My paintings now are this size and bigger! I quickly learned that I am allergic to epoxy so I had to switch mediums and space to accompany. I changed my medium to acrylics and started to learn through trial and error of what I liked to create. The biggest thing I learned was that when I painted, I released emotions through the acts of the creation process, this became my therapy. In 2019 I was diagnosed with neoendocrine cancer which halted the progression of my art for some time, but I was happy to have it once I was ready to paint again. At this time, I had an art space in the basement. Once covid lifted, I decided to push myself further and rent a 650 sq ft studio at The Russell Industrial Center in Detroit. My art flourished, my goals grew bigger, and I was becoming that artist my 7-year-old self-envisioned. 

In 2021 I began to curate a traveling art exhibit with another artist. It is a Michigan-wide multi-artist traveling art exhibit. The exhibit, “Let’s Zoom: Self-Portraits of Our Artist Communities” launched in May 2021 and has eight tours with more to come ultimately ending in 2023. It is composed of over 75 self-portraits inspired by living within the Covid-19 Pandemic. It has been in multiple news articles as well as on The Mitt Tv. 

Through this exposure, I was offered the position as art coordinator and curator for Crain Communications World Headquarters facilitating art exhibitions and developing a rotating arts program. These programs take place around multiple areas of their campus, Brewery Park Corporate Campus in Detroit. 

In 2021, I was highlighted by Umoja Fine Arts Gallery (Southfield) as an up-and-coming artist. 2022 has brought much success as well; I have begun creating corporate collections for businesses within the city of Detroit as well as a participant of ArtPrize. 

Today, my studio resides in Dearborn at the City Hall ArtSpace commercial building. 

I’m sure you wouldn’t say it’s been obstacle free, but so far would you say the journey has been a fairly smooth road?
I have faced depression and anxiety throughout this journey, but through these struggles, I have also learned a lot about myself. When my mom was diagnosed with cancer, I felt empty and helpless. Today she is alive and well and is in remission. I learned that I can use art as a therapy source to release and get through the hard times. 

When I was diagnosed with my own cancer, I was scared, at the time I had two boys ages 12 and 5. I didn’t let it stop me, however. I took watercolors to the hospital for my recovery and when I was home, I would even paint with my feet. 

When Covid hit, I tried to stay as active as I could in my painting. We moved right after lockdowns, and I had to reconstruct my studio in the new home. The downtime gave me all of time to reflect on what I want from life and how I want to proceed. I made a list and chipped away at everything one at a time. One of the things was to safely end use of SSRIs and deal with the childhood trauma which causes me anxiety and depression. Fast forward to 2022, I am off medicines and I feel alive. I feel like me. It has been hard work, but I know that finding myself through spirituality is what I needed to help myself heal and move on. I still struggle at times because nothing is perfect, but I understand my triggers and have set boundaries for a healthy lifestyle. Art has been a healing part through all of this; I take to the canvas as much as possible or even just talking to others about abuse, trauma, and healing has its benefits. 

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I specialize in intuitive painting. I like to use texture and color to execute my visions or ideas. I have blended my skills as a graphic designer in my work along with what I do for Crain Communications. Another specialty I have is using healing crystals within my work whether I am grinding them up and adding to the paint or using them in other various methods during my process. I also use sage, meditation as well as movement to push emotions through pieces. 

The reason why I took the role at Crain was because I could have creative freedom developing the art programs on their campus. My mission was to give local artists a low-cost opportunity to display their work without having to pay high percentages on sales. Many galleries and spaces charge up to 60% commission on the sale of artists work while I have strived to keep it at 20%, which covers the bare minimum. 

I have mentored those who wish to learn how to paint and become artists as well within my studio. My mentorship helps to set those up for success. 

Do you have any memories from childhood that you can share with us?
My best friend did not have a date for her homecoming, so we decided to go together and create duct tape dresses to wear. We lined them with trash bags, and they had a tie-up back. I went a step beyond and surprised her with a corsage made out of duct tape roses. I still have the dress! 

Pricing:

• Original art ranges from $100 and up
• Commissioned pieces are available
• Prints $15 and up

Contact Info:

• Website: www.amandakossart.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amandakossart
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/amandakossart

Image Credits
Gabriella Csapo
Glenn Kujansuu