Mixed Media Artist Artist Categories

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Tammy L Toj Gajewski

Ceramist; Craftsperson; Mixed Media Artist; Painter; Poet; Storyteller; Teacher/Instructor

At a very early age Tammy’s mother encouraged her creativity and supported her exploration of poetry, drawing, painting and animals. She attended university and learned the base of oil painting, ceramics, fiber arts, French translation and welding. She had one job after graduation related to fine arts and was fired after helping the owner buy a Matisse painting from the family; because her French translation skills were no longer needed. After 42 years in the blue collar work force which included 23 years with the Department of Corrections she retired to do art full time. Her therapist stated that the mere act of creativity will help moderate her PTSD, keep her depression at bay, and help heal the tremendous loss of family. Today Tammy has made her own family, loves her two career changed Leader Dogs for the Blind, practices meditation in the Thick Nhat Han tradition, and has her own studio to paint and create in on Lake Superior. Her wife of twenty years tells her often to go to the studio and Tammy returns refreshed and vibrant. She has shown her work at several shows in the Upper Peninsula over the last twenty five years and hopes to have her first gallery exhibit in 2023. Her pen name is Toj- Teacher of Joy- given to her by her art mentor John Fritz in high school and later by her college mentor Keiko Hara. Besides it is much easier to sign than Tammy Lynn Webeck Pasko Gajewski.

Niikah Hatfield

Artisan; Author/Writer; Ceramist; Dancer; Maker; Mixed Media Artist; Multiple Art Forms; Musician; Performance Art; Vocalist/Singer

Emerging from the wilderness, Niikah is an artist & singer-songwriter from the north woods of Michigan. Dancing between reality and the ethers, her work is in constant conversation with the world. She grew up on a small family farm near the coast of Lake Superior, and between homeschooling, wandering through the woodlands, and working in the fields, she gained a deep appreciation for the cycles of life, hard work, and a deep connection with nature. After studying Ceramics at Northern Michigan University and abroad in Romania, Niikah started Niik Creative Co. in 2020. The small studio, located on Presque Isle in Marquette, is the heart of a thriving business with a mission to bring unique and creative home goods that inspire presence in everyday life. The thread that emerges amid the breadth of her creative endeavors is one of deep inquiry into the interconnectedness of all things. Laced with a desire to better understand the world we live in, her creative expression becomes a way of life. Leaning into the experiences that make up life is the nectar of living, and art is the medium.

Steven Hughes

Graphic Artist; Illustrator; Mixed Media Artist; Painter; Photographer; Teacher/Instructor

Steven Hughes, who goes by the artist name Primary Hughes, is best known for his colorful acrylic portraits, having shown in numerous pop-culture and illustration-focused gallery exhibitions in California and New York. As an artist residing in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula, and Professor of Illustration at Northern Michigan University, he can often be found exploring the natural landscape along the coast of Lake Superior with his plein-air kit. His painting and illustration work revels in the interplay of light and color, and the emotional impact in quieter moments of determination, thoughtful reflection, and preparation for a thing that must be done. View more of his work on Instagram or his website, primaryhughes.com

Taryn Okesson

Mixed Media Artist; Muralist; Painter; Photographer

Taryn Okesson is from Marquette, MI and graduated from Northern Michigan University in 2009 with a BFA in Fine Arts. She and her husband began traveling by RV in 2019 and those experiences influence her current work. In her travels she collects samples of objects and textures. She also keeps a catalog of her own photography to create from. Taryn’s art is inspired by animal symbolism, life/death cycles and the unique interconnectedness of the natural world. An interdisciplinary artist, her media include: photography, ink, acrylic and mixed-media paintings.

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