Bio
Writer/artist Lynn Von Sien (she/her/hers) is an Arrowhead Regional Arts Council and Minnesota State Arts Board grant recipient. She has been published in Artpolice, The Nib, Solstice Literary Magazine, Seesawcomics.org and several Sequential Artists Workshop anthologies. Lynn has exhibited her work in prestigious venues such as The Small Press Expo in Bethesda, Maryland, and The Minneapolis Institute of Arts. She holds a B.S. in Design from the University of Minnesota (‘87), and is an adoptee rights advocate residing in northern Minnesota.
Photo/Daniel Corrigan
Comics Education
The Sequential Artists Workshop has been the greatest well of knowledge for comic construction I've immersed myself in, having done both in-person and online learning there. Also, I've studied graphic memoir at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design extension, and memoir writing at The Loft Literary Center in Minneapolis. Additionally, I've devoured the Lynda Barry, Scott McCloud and Will Eisner instructional books. Mentoring sessions with Tom Hart and also Chris Staros have been invaluable. My unique comics skill set has also been informed by being an avid reader of graphic lit, and my decades in the graphics biz.
Artist's Statement
My goal as a visual storyteller is to relay my personal stories, and contemplate healing and survival. I see it as my job to bring this to a universal level, mirroring common human struggles, our quest for joy, understanding and forgiveness. If I can entertain, and make people laugh in the process, that’s the gold I seek. Drawing and memoir writing are my divining tools to this end.
Professional Life in a Nutshell
After graduating from college in 1987 (B.S. Design, University of Minnesota), I left my cozy job as a record store clerk to work at The Minneapolis Institute of Arts. For the next eight years I worked in nine departments: Front Desk, Switchboard, Coat-check, Art Crew, Office of the Registrar, Scheduling, Marketing, Media, and I was an intern in what was then called African, Oceanic and New World Cultures. Basically, I loved and adored being within the walls of that museum and took any part-time work that came up. It allowed me to develop my art-making life. It was during these years that I created Whatever You Wish to Keep. I left in the Spring of 1994 to study Italian in Italy.
After Italy, I changed course, going to night school to learn design software. I spent the next eighteen years working in photo studios and ad agencies as a graphic and web designer and production artist. The last eight years of my graphics career was spent freelancing in production. During this time I gained a reputation for fast, accurate work and being easy to work with. My last gig was working for a hospital and clinic network and as a result, I decided to do something more health oriented going forward. I left advertising to attend Aveda's massage therapy program. I worked as a CMT until committing to caregive my elderly parents full-time. Caregiving was my primary occupation from 2014-2021. I am now a full time artist and writer.
Exhibitions
LITTLE BIG SHOW
MacRostie Art Center, Grand Rapids, MN
2022
Foot In The Door 5
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
2020
WTF! A Feminist Art Exhibition
Studio 3 West and Prøve Collective, Duluth, MN
2017
Art-A-Whirl
Elle Louise Fine Art Gallery, Solar Arts Building, Minneapolis, MN
2014
Muse Works
Wilensky Arts, Minneapolis, MN
1991
Works: Drawing and Basketry (solo)
University of Wisconsin, Madison
1991
The Other Foot In The Door Show
The Minneapolis Institute of Arts
1990
Nine Exhibitionists Open Studio
Sweatt Mansion, Minneapolis, MN
1988
Drawings (solo)
Rockit Records, Minneapolis, MN
1988
All group shows unless noted.
Personal Things of Interest
I'm very proud of starting Kinks tribute band "Kinda Kinky" in my south Minneapolis basement in November 2010. I played bass in this outfit for eight years. Every holiday season we put on an extravagant show with numerous notable guest vocalists all in the name of fighting hunger in our community. We raised money and food donations for The Food Group MN.
I now live in beautiful northern Minnesota with my husband James, and spoiled only cat Bunty. I'm very fortunate to be able to gaze out on a beautiful lake when I need a break from work (unless the fog has rolled in and then I stare into the abyss.)