Erin Kaya grew up in Chicago and was always drawing and painting. “I invented cartoons called Funny Tummy Bears, squares all over notebooks, even all over the walls and carpet in my bedroom,” she says. Kaya became interested in photography in Junior High and began taking her camera everywhere, photographing everyone. She then studied art at the University of Kansas and graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree. After graduating, Kaya began her career in high end retail and was fascinated at how art and fashion work together. She continued to paint as much as possible while working with some amazing designers and brands with Cynthia Rowley, Neiman Marcus, and Zara. She moved into visuals, continuing to bridge the gap between fashion and art by leading the visual department at Marshall Fields. Throughout her fashion career, Kaya continued to paint and focus on her own personal expression of art. The artist was always talking about it and always coming up with different ideas of how she could translate fashion and her overall creative ideas into paintings. Cynthia Rowley and Marshall Fields, along with several other local stores, soon began to hang her art throughout their stores. After her daughter was born in 2009, Kaya decided to strictly focus on painting full time. She wanted to teach her that you can do whatever you want to do in your life. She exhibited locally and throughout Chicago and worked on commissions for individuals and businesses. Soon she was chosen to exhibit at Thomas Masters Gallery, a staple in the Chicago art scene. Kaya has been commissioned to paint for Golub Capital and sells her works through Laughlin Gallery in Highland Park, IL, and Mark Rengers Gallery outside of Pittsburgh, PA. Each year, Erin Kaya donates a painting to Erika’s Lighthouse, a nonprofit that raises awareness for depression and anxiety. Kaya’s paintings alone have helped raise over $18,000, with all proceeds going to Erika’s Lighthouse. Watch an interview with Erin Kaya here. Read a JWC article on Erin Kaya here.