Aunia Kahn Artist Biography

Aunia Marie Kahn (B. 1977 Detroit, Michigan)is an award-winning and collected American contemporary painter, collector, curator, and gallerist. Kahn originally began creating art as a therapeutic response to a difficult upbringing and chronic illnesses. Her work is a harmonious fusion of evocative characters surrounded by a tapestry of intricate maximalist worlds brimming with vibrant colors and bold patterns.

Her artwork has been exhibited in over 300+ exhibitions across 10 countries, including prestigious institutions such as SDAI, iMOCA, and CAM St. Louis. She has lectured at colleges and universities, and her work has been featured in Yahoo, Prevention, and Authority Magazine. As an author, artist, and curator, Kahn has contributed to a variety of internationally recognized exhibitions, books, and decks.

She also owns Poetic Tiger Gallery, a vibrant space that brings together international, national, and local artists. The gallery offers a dynamic blend of contemporary, narrative, folk, pop surrealism, and outsider art, creating an eclectic and immersive experience for visitors and collectors alike. In addition to her artistic pursuits, Kahn owns Rise Visible, a web design and digital marketing agency with 26 years of experience.

Statement

The work I create is inspired by the heartfelt desire to connect to the world where real-time participation has been minimal. As a human who struggled with an undiagnosed illness that left me on the brink of death for two decades – creativity has been my lifeline. This unforeseen lifeline provided a vessel to channel numerous ways to engage with my unfolding story. What is more, it has become a direct connection to other peoples’ stories in this vast world of beauty and complicated life challenges. For years, my work was based on survival. Now, entering another phase of my life, my work has transitioned into a narrative of personal evolution and highlights how grateful I am to still be alive. The work is rooted in symbolism in touches on subjects such as vulnerability, loss, challenges, beauty, wisdom, and the voice we all have inside.