ABOUT
Colleen Gunderson is a central Wisconsin artist whose practice centers on photography, highlighting the interconnectedness and nuanced beauty of the natural world. Her images suggest a delicate balance and celebrate the poetry found in everyday scenes.
Originally from Milwaukee, she developed a contemplative creative approach through a lifelong practice of following forest paths. During visits to Door County, Abe Cohn's pottery and studio instilled a formative appreciation of material and of artwork in organic dialogue with nature. Her sense of composition drew early inspiration from the paintings of Robert Leland Pence, particularly his intentional use of space. Today, this heritage of craft and composition converges with an appreciation of Japanese aesthetic traditions and historical processes. She uses traditional Japanese washi paper as a printing medium, echoing the environment through rich, textured impressions with inherent strength, and is currently experimenting with cyanotype techniques.
Gunderson’s work has been exhibited throughout Wisconsin, including shows at the Miller Art Museum, the Museum of Wisconsin Art, and the Neville Public Museum. Dedicated to community-driven art access, she supports local galleries in central Wisconsin and contributes to the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Eastern Wisconsin and Coalition of Photographic Arts (CoPA) art partnership based in Milwaukee. In addition to her regional impact, Gunderson joins the global printmaking community by participating in the biennial Awagami International Miniature Print Exhibition in Japan.