ABOUT THE ART
CANADIAN ARTIST, Kirsten Bollen is known for her modern and colourful representations of nature. Exploration and connection to nature largely inspires her work, as her art captures landmarks from Alberta to the bc coast, focusing on the majestic Rocky Mountains. Hopeful to inspire others to get out and explore, her work touches on larger themes of community and building connection through shared experiences.
Kirsten’s style is cultivated from her lifelong pursuit of fine art and passion for the great outdoors. Her unique aesthetic is influenced by her background in visual communication design, as she focuses on using colour and shape to tell stories. Working with a fresh and modern palette to capture meaningful places, the artwork evokes an emotional response from the audience as they apply their own connection to the work.
About the artist
Albertan through and through, Kirsten has lived in this province all her life. She was born and raised in small town, northern Alberta and moved to Edmonton to receive a Bachelor of Visual Communication Design at the University of Alberta, where she honed her skills in graphic design, painting, and drawing. After taking a break from art to follow a career in the public service in Calgary, the pandemic provided a gift of time, where she expressed her love for the rocky mountains through paint and developed a distinctly unique style.
Kirsten currently resides in Calgary, Alberta, where she balances creating art and exploring new places in the Canadian Rockies with her partner, Courtney. She also works as a curriculum designer for her local government creating online training and more recently graduated with a Masters of Public Administration to better serve the community.
Highlights
Scroll through the carousel below for a number of noteworthy community art projects and events.
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Chinook Blast Curling Rock | FEB 2021
1 of 16 local artists asked to participate in Chinook Blast by painting a curling rock, which were later auctioned for the charity, Kid’s Sport (mine had the highest bid)!
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Three Sisters Mural | SEPT 2021
Part of the Sunnyside Mural Project, this mural is located in Calgary’s downtown community of Sunnyside. Tag me in your photos if you visit @kirst.makes.art!
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Live Painting Event | Nov 2021
Painted among the peaks at the top of the Banff Gondola, while interacting with the public and showcasing artwork.
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COMMERCIAL PROJECT | Dec 2021
My first commercial project, featuring a set of three local mountain scenes, which are on permanent display in The Vue in Canmore, a new upscale rental residence.
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Square Foot Show | FEB 2022
Took part in my first online group show and all four of my paintings sold out within 8 minutes of the show launching!
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Plein Air Challenge | June 2022
Braved the spring time elements in Waterton National Park with a weekend of painting outdoors and won a prize from Opus’s Plein Air Challenge.
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MY HEART, MY CAUSE | Aug 2022
A collaborative t-shirt with Canadian fashion brand, Simons. $10 from each t-shirt sold donated to CPAWS.
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Solo Art Exhibit | OCT 2022
Another hugely successful show, selling out all the pieces in my first solo art exhibit, at Vine Styles in Kensington, Calgary.
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Uniqlo Collab | AUG 2023
My Three Sisters design on limited edition totes and tees to celebrate international fashion brand Uniqlo’s first store opening in Calgary!
Explore • create • connect
Explore the wild and untamed beauty of the Canadian Rocky Mountains, create artwork that captures the essence of nature, connect with community through art.
SUSTAINABILITY
My art is directly connected to the beauty and wonder of our natural landscapes. To help protect the Canadian wilderness, I am committed to running periodic promotions which donate a portion of my profits to CPAWS. Selecting locally sourced supplies and making environmentally responsible decisions is a priority when creating and packaging art in my studio.
