Hi! I’m Giesla, a lifelong artist and Minnesota resident.
My art journey began with my studies in interior design and graphic design at the University of Minnesota-Twin Cities. I received an Associate of Arts in Multimedia Design from Globe College in 2001.
Faced with a difficult job market after 9/11, in 2002 I founded Inkblots, an art business specializing in digitally created, inkjet-printed artwork and gifts. I showcased my work at art fairs across the Midwest and sold it through local retailers and galleries. As the methods of production evolved and I stopped creating gift items, Inkblots was no longer a good fit. In 2012 I rebranded under my own name.
Feeling the push for a change and battling burnout, I began cutting back my art fair schedule and in 2016 created my final location digital collage and participated in my last art fair. I returned to my graphic design roots and shifted my focus to freelance design work. To maintain flexibility, I taught myself motion graphics and explored video production. In 2024, I decided to pursue my longtime interest in projection mapping and have since been dedicating most of my efforts to that.
While I initially struggled with not having a main focus of work, I’ve come to embrace being multidisciplinary as I don’t do anything half-heartedly and work diligently to become proficient at every skill I set out to learn. I believe openness and honesty is the foundation of every relationship, working or otherwise. I aim to create work that evokes awe and curiosity and is a brief respite from the many difficulties we face.
When I’m not learning a new skill or creating art, you can find me calculating whether I can afford to buy yet another concert ticket, crocheting, reading, listening to podcasts, traveling (and pulling over quickly to photograph a vintage neon sign), or exploring the beauty of our natural world.
I love all things illuminated! For the Oogie Boogie Halloween Bash at Disneyland, I made this costume of Jerry from the Pixar movie Soul with EL wire.