ARTIST STATEMENT
As a Colorado-based multidisciplinary artist, I explore resilience, transformation, and reflection through the use of upcycled materials—most notably burlap. Often salvaged from used coffee sacks, burlap is a coarse and humble fabric that carries a rich history of labor and transport. In my work, it symbolizes struggle—both personal and collective—and serves as a tactile reminder of endurance, imperfection, and the possibility of change.

Much of my artistic inspiration comes not only from lived experience, but from the emotional clarity found in reading and reflecting on literature. I see burlap as a parallel to the characters and ideas I encounter in books: weathered, layered, and imperfect—yet full of texture and meaning. Whether shaped into sculptural forms, sewn into layered compositions, or used as a printing surface, burlap allows me to explore vulnerability and strength simultaneously.

By upcycling this material and combining it with leftover latex paint, I seek to add value to what is often overlooked or discarded. These acts of transformation are small but intentional gestures of care—toward the environment, toward memory, and toward the creative process itself.

My artworks invite viewers into quiet spaces of reflection, encouraging them to consider their own experiences with struggle and renewal. I see art as a way to listen deeply—to materials, to stories, and to the subtle ways in which beauty and meaning emerge from what’s been weathered.

Another medium I work with is tusche wash. It has unpredictable behaviors, and I enjoy how it moves as if it has a mind of its own. When I feel emotional, energetic, or explosive, nothing excites me more than working with tusche wash — typically a printmaking medium. Watery tusche washes dry into capricious puddles. In contrast, dry tusche wash is like painting with confectioner’s sugar: its powdery and moody marks are almost too wild to tame.

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“My mind is my sketchbook.”

ARTIST BIO
Megan is a fine artist and graphic designer living in Louisville, Colorado. Born in Chicago, Illinois, Megan moved to Fort Collins, Colorado with her family in 1986. Megan graduated from Colorado State University in 1995 with a B.F.A. in Fine Art – Graphic Design. Megan worked as a junior designer at the prestigious Monigle Associates agency in Denver, CO before moving to Steamboat Springs in 1998 to fulfill a lifelong dream of rocky mountain living.  Megan opened Strange Bird Designs as her small graphic design studio in 1999 working with many clients within the Steamboat Springs resort community. Megan returned to Colorado’s front range in 2012, where she owns & operates Strange Bird Designs together with her husband, Jamie, now based in Louisville, Colorado.

COMMISSION ART
I enjoy creating original custom pieces. If you have an image that you would like me to create, please contact me to discuss additional details & concepts.

AWARDS
2022 1st Place for Pastels in the Open Studios Plein Air Event
2021 Special Merit Award for 11th “Animals”Art Exhibition – Online Art Competition
2018 Award of Excellence for “Subterranean” – 40 West Arts – Black, White & Metal, juried art show
2015 Best of Show for “Meet Me at the Market” – Spring Louisville Art Association Member Show
2014 3rd Place for “Tiny Dancers” – Fall Louisville Art Association Member Show

SOLO EXHIBITIONS
March 2024 – GRAIN & FIBER – Valkarie Gallery – Lakewood, CO
February 2023 – TOMORROW – Valkarie Gallery – Lakewood, CO
March 2022 – WAVES – Valkarie Gallery – Lakewood, CO
November 2022 – TURN – 931 Gallery – Denver, CO
January 2021 –EMBODY – Valkarie Gallery – Lakewood, CO

ART EVENTS & EXHIBITIONS

2025 Other Worlds: The Fiber of Her Being – Curated by Rebecca Gabriel and Catherine V. Carilli – Mar. 13-Apr.6 – Colorado Women’s Art Museum at D’art Gallery East – Denver, CO
2025 Art of the State – Juried by Jane Burke, Christopher Herron, Collin Parson – Jan. 16-Mar.30 – Arvada Art Center, CO
2025 Canyon Gallery in the Boulder Public Library – Feb.-Mar. BRAVA! Exhibition – Boulder, CO
2024 BRDG Project – Sept.13-Oct.6 – SEED – Juried by Michael Burnett – Denver, CO
2024 EDGE Gallery – Aug.2-18 – On Edge 2024 Exhibition – Juried by Jim Robischon – Lakewood, CO
2024 The Printers Planet Festival – August 11 – The Railyard, Santa Fe, NM – Juried Art Event
2024 NoBo Art District, Bus Stop Gallery – June 7-30 – Figurative Exhibit Group Show – Boulder, CO
2024 Garden of the Gods Art Festival – May 18-19 – Colorado Springs, CO Rock Ledge Ranch Historic Site
2024 BRDG Project – Mar. 8-Apr. 2, “Power to the Print”, a Month of Printmaking Exhibition
2024 Valkarie Gallery – Mar. 6-31 Paired Solo Exhibit with Chris Hoehle – Lakewood, CO
2024 BRDG Project– Feb. 8-Mar. 2, True West 5, curated annually by Michael Dowling
2024 528.0 Regional Juried Printmaking Exhibition – Jan. 18-Mar.24 – Arvada Art Center, CO
2023 BRDG Project – Dec.16 – 2nd Annual Champagne and Donuts Brunch Gala & Fundraiser
2023 PACE Center Art Gallery Exhibition – Nov.15-Jan.1 – The West Through a New Lens – Parker, CO
2023 G44 Gallery – Nov.30-Jan.15 – 12th Annual Holiday Show – Colorado Springs, CO
2023 The Brinton Museum – Oct.21-Dec.23 Printmaking in the Rockies and on the Great Plains – WY
2023 Open Studios Tour – October (3 weekends)– Juried Event – Boulder County, CO
2023 Rio Grande Arts & Crafts Festival – October 6-8 – Albuquerque, NM – Juried Art Event
2023 Small Works at Strata Gallery –Sept.26-Oct.13 – Santa Fe, NM – Juried Exhibition
2023 BRDG Project – Aug. 8—Sept.5, “Preface” – BRDG Project’s inaugural exhibition – Chapter 2
2023 The Printers Planet Festival – August – The Railyard, Santa Fe, NM – Juried Art Event
2023 Little Creatures Art Show – July – Boulder Public Library, Canyon Gallery – Boulder, CO
2023 The Plains Conservation Center – July 7-14, 2023 – 1st Annual Art on the Prairie Show – Aurora, CO
2023 James May Gallery – June – Art of Water VII on Artsy.net – Juried Art Exhibition
2023 James May Gallery – April/August – Small Works on Artsy.net – Juried Art Exhibition
2023 Firehouse Art Center – April/South Gallery – Juried Art Exhibition – Longmont, CO
2023 Night Lights Denver by David Moke – Month of February – Denver, CO
2023 Valkarie Gallery – Feb. 8-Mar. 5 Paired Solo Exhibit with Jennifer Ghormley – Lakewood, CO
2022 931 Gallery – Oct .20-Nov. 20 Solo Art Exhibition “Tomorrow”- Denver, CO
2022 Open Studios Tour – Oct1-2, 15-16, Boulder, CO – Juried Art Exhibition
2022 Southwest Print Fiesta – Printer’s Market, Saturday, Oct. 8, Silver City, NM – Juried Art Event
2022 Printed Matter #3 – The Railyard, Santa Fe, NM, by Tim Jag– Juried Art Event
2022 James May Gallery – Art of Water VI on Artsy.net – Juried Art Exhibition
2022 east window gallery – DISGUST: unhealthy practices – Boulder, CO
2022 Valkarie Gallery – March 2022 Paired Solo Exhibit with Dona Laurita – Lakewood, CO
2022 Open Studios Pop! Gallery – January 2022 Member’s Art Exhibition – Boulder, CO
2021 Pirate Contemporary Art – The Outsider Show – Lakewood, CO
2021 Pepney Gallery – Juried Art Exhibition “The Secret Garden” – Cavan, Ireland
2021 Core New Art Space Gallery – Juried Art Exhibition “Lost & Found”- Lakewood, CO
2021 931 Gallery – Juried Art Exhibition “Figure Sublime”- Denver, CO
2021 40 West Arts District – Member Showcase – Lakewood, CO
2021  NYC/NFT edition of the EVERY WOMAN BIENNIAL – Juried Art Exhibition – New York, NY
2021 James May Gallery – Art of Water V on Artsy.net – Juried Art Exhibition
2021 Valkarie Gallery – Solo Art Exhibition – Lakewood, CO
2020 Valkarie Gallery – Member’s Gallery – Lakewood, CO
2020 Firehouse Art Center – Locavore – Juried Art Exhibition – Longmont, CO
2019 40 West Arts District – Elements Exhibition – Juried Art Exhibition – Lakewood, CO
2019 R Gallery – Darkness – Juried Art Exhibition – Boulder, CO
2019 R Gallery – Boulder Art Association Wall – Juried Art Exhibition – Boulder, CO
2019 R Gallery – Lines – Juried Art Exhibition – Boulder, CO
2019 RiNo Spring Bazaar – Group Exhibition – Denver, CO
2019 40 West Arts District – Member Showcase – Lakewood, CO
2018 40 West Arts “Black, White, & Metal Art Exhibition” – Juried Art Exhibition – Lakewood, CO
2016 Downtown Aspen Art Festival – Juried Art Exhibition – Aspen, CO
2015 Art On The Rockies – Juried Art Exhibition – Edwards, CO
2014 Downtown Boulder Fall Festival Art Exhibition – Juried Art Exhibition – Boulder, CO
2014 ArtCrank – Juried Art Exhibition – Breckenridge, CO
2014 Denver Art Festival @ Sloan’s Lake – Juried Art Exhibition – Denver, CO
2012 Park City Kimball Arts Festival – Juried Art Exhibition – Park City, UT

ART RESIDENCIES
Our Lady – 2024 January 7 – February 3 – Our Lady of Perpetual Motion in Fruita, CO

ART GALLERIES
The Lab on Santa Fe – Juried Exhibitions – Denver, CO https://www.thelabonsantafe.com/
BRDG Project – Member & Art Classes – Denver, CO  https://www.brdgproject.com/
Valkarie Gallery – Member’s Gallery – Lakewood, CO https://www.valkariefineart.com/
Open Studios – Member’s Gallery – Boulder, CO https://www.openstudios.org/

ARTIST MEMBERSHIP & VOLUNTEER

2023-2024 BRDG Project (Denver, CO) – Artist Member
2021-2024 Open Studios (Boulder, CO) – Artist Member
2020-2024 Valkarie Gallery (Lakewood, CO) – Resident Artist
2019-2023 Firehouse Art Center (Longmont, CO) – Artist Member
2019-2020 Boulder Art Association (Boulder, CO) – Artist Member
2018-2023 40 West Arts District (Lakewood, CO) – Artist Member
2017-2019 Louisville Art District (Louisville, CO) – Volunteer/Graphic Design
2014-2018 Louisville Art Association (Louisville, CO) – Artist Member

REVIEWS
June 2024 – NoBo Art District – Bus Stop Gallery Figurative Exhibit Group Show
February 2024 – Your Hub – BRDG Project opens in North Denver – Megan feature photo
August 2023 – Your Hub – BRDG Project opens in North Denver – Megan feature photo
February 2023 – Your Hub – Valkarie Gallery – Paired Solo Exhibition with Jennifer Ghormely
July 2022 – Seren Vintage Watch Gallery – Printed Matter Festival Review
July 2022 – Southwest Contemporary – Printed Matter Event
March 2022 – Westword – Art Attack – Susan Froyd
January 2021 – Westword – Art Attack – Susan Froyd
July 2021 – M.A.D.S. Art Gallery – PARAÍSO
January 2020 – Westword – Art Attack – Susan Froyd
May 2019 – Show @ Creative Framing & Gallery (Louisville, CO)
March 2018 – Show @ Alfalfa’s Market (Boulder, CO)
September 2015 – Downtown Boulder Fall Festival (Boulder, CO)
September 2014 – Downtown Boulder’s Fall Festival (Boulder, CO)
May 2013 – Ben Delaney @ Bike Radar (Boulder, CO)
August 2012 – Printmaking @ Park City Art Festival (Park City, UT)
November 2010 – Show @ Spill The Beans (Steamboat Springs, CO)
December 2009 – Coloring Book Launch @ Epilogue Book Co (Steamboat Springs, CO)