Artist Statement
Art is how I honor the present moment. Something others may miss, but something worth preserving. The atmosphere of a place, the softness of a moment, and the quiet details that ask us to slow down and notice.
I am drawn to the simplicity and earthiness of materials like charcoal and pastel, as well as the layered language of paint, because they echo the natural world that continues to inspire me.
Bio
Kristy Lausten is a fine artist based just outside Chicago, where the quiet of the Midwest meets the rhythm of a creative life. From her earliest days sketching to the sound of a record playing, or camping with family, she found wonder in what others often overlooked. That love for beauty and attentiveness led her to earn a BFA from Columbia College Chicago and later complete the Mastery Program at the Milan Art Institute. Her background in art, design, marketing, and advertising has sharpened her ability to see things differently and create work that feels both restorative and liberating.
Drawn by compassion for nature and the human spirit, Kristy paints with washes of color, layered depth, and open space, often threaded with veins of gold. The result is a dreamlike energy shaped by soulful music and a sense of reverence that guides her process.
In the studio, Kristy is working on a new collection that focuses on light and while finishing the updated manuscript for Art, Faith, and Culture, which explores how art has expressed faith and shaped cultural change throughout history.
Outside of painting, Kristy regularly partners with charities such as Mercy’s Reach as a way of giving thanks for the challenges she has overcome in her own life. That is why a portion of the proceeds of every purchase is not just for art, but for a future. For her, creativity is more than expression—it is gratitude, and a way to celebrate the beauty of moments.
CV
Professional Summary
Kristy Lausten is a contemporary painter working in the realm of abstract realism. Using oil and mixed media, she creates soulful, expressive pieces that reflect a moment of beauty, hope, and connection for others. Rooted in a sense of spiritual presence and emotional depth, her art invites contemplation and transformation. Kristy also leads workshops and private lessons designed to help others find freedom and purpose through creativity.
Exhibitions
Solo Exhibitions
August 2026 - Crete Creative Gallery, Crete IL
December 2025 – Wild Light, The Edge Coffee House, Crete, IL
Group Exhibitions
5/28-7/3/26 - Earth & Ocean, Union Street Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
9/28/2025 - Milan Art Gallery, Emerging Artist Exhibition, Sarasota, FL
9/20 - 11/20/25 - Kingdom Animalia hosted by Exhibizone.
8/2025 - Her Canvas Art Exhibition hosted by Blue Koi Gallery.
8/2025 - Feline Splendor, Crete Creative Gallery, Crete IL
7/2025 – Friends of The Edge Art Show, The Edge Coffee House, Crete IL
Reviews
“Looking at Kristy’s paintings, one would wonder “is this what a prayer in a painting looks like?” As where most of us fall on our knees and pray, others pray with a paintbrush in their hand in front of an easel and an empty canvas. Where we use words and cries for supplications, this artist fills the empty canvas with pains, sorrow, tears, joy, thankfulness, and gratitude. How can you color an emotion, how does one express gratitude with color, shapes, hues, lines, and curves through different mediums that transcend? All done in harmony with one’s soul?! Pieces of the artist soul are gathered and arranged together. It’s an inner process invisible to the outsiders, as only the finished product is shared with us. However, there is a transformation of one’s inner being, a metamorphosis that takes place which God ordains and allows to happen for our growth, oftentimes even for our survival. ”
“Kristy’s art is beautiful, a true gift from God. You can see her heart and soul are poured into her paintings and drawings. ”