Life & Work with Miranda Lehl of Highland Park

Today we’d like to introduce you to Miranda Lehl.

Hi Miranda, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I always knew I wanted to do something in the arts. I originally started out at Michigan State University in veterinary medicine because I was always told that “there was no money in the arts.” About after a year I made the switch to arts & humanities, but realized my passion was more in the hands on department of fine art drawing and painting. I then made the transition to Academy of Art University based in San Francisco, California and graduated in 2021 with a BFA. It has been a long journey to decide and go after what I ultimately wanted to do. I never felt that I had the self discipline to do it on my own, so Im happy with the route I took. Since then, I have set up at art shows in the mid-west, shown work in multiple galleries throughout Michigan, and started a printing company with my partner.

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?
A lot of the struggles have come from myself. Feeling like I may not be doing enough, second guessing the work I do, comparing myself to others, and trying to conquer social media. As a person living with depression, anxiety, and OCD, the road tends to be a bumpy, winding path, but at the end of the day its about never stopping with creating and even using those emotions to make something.

Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am Detroit-based painter, printer, and all around maker who primarily focuses on colorful portraits. I paint a lot of myself into these portraits. The faces are different, but the emotions conveyed are the same – it’s all about evoking a feeling. My work showcases vivid color, emphasizing the joy that can come from life, while also portraying emotions that tend to be the opposite, all in colorful form.
I am also known for painting custom pet portraits; creating cats sitting on fluffy clouds, or a group of dogs with their owners… I love making something that is personal for someone. I have also painted wedding portraits, baby portraits, and landscapes for personal commissions and posters for local businesses.
I am most proud of putting myself out there artistically. I remember the first time my work got accepted into a gallery back in 2021 and how proud I felt in that moment, I truly thought that it would never happen to me. That day was the first day of diving into the art field outside of school and I knew that this is what I wanted to keep doing.
The best part about art is that it is personal. It is a reflection of who I am and what I feel, making it different from other art out there. What I create is still a hands-on experience for me. I don’t use photoshop or AI to create what I do, something that I feel is flooding the art world in this moment in time. My work may not have that polished look. I love using multiple mediums, whatever I can get my hands on, to show the playful side that art can have.

What’s next?
My future plans involve getting my work out there more besides the current mid-west, and applying to art shows, festivals, and galleries throughout the country. Another goal of mine is to also show my work in other countries. I look forward to the art I haven’t made yet and how much it’ll change in the future. I hope I learn more practices, travel to new places, and meet more people who love art just as much as I do.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mirandamakesart.com
• Instagram: @miranda_makesart
• Other: https://etsy.com/shop/MirandaLehlStudio