Unveiling Joy Kinna’s Artistic Odyssey: A Journey of Style and Inspiration

describe your style in four words.

Classic. Versatile. Edgy. Unique.

Could you share the story behind your favorite wardrobe piece?

Oh this is a hard one to choose – I have a blazer that used to be my grandmas and it must be 40+ years old. It's beige and lined with silk. It is loose and worn in and honestly one of my favorite pieces.

We've noticed that you incorporate nature into your art. What keeps your inspiration for paintings connected to nature going?

Yes! Connecting to nature is a way for me to slow down, enter into a state of calm and rest. I want to be creating out of that place. A place of peace. This is when I find my inspiration peaks. My work is very process driven and emotional so connecting with nature is a way for me to really connect with myself deeper.

Could you share with us how you developed your unique process of painting? How did you get to where you are today?

Ah yes. Many years of exploration. I have been creating since I was a kid. I was the one in my family that would be hoarding all the art supplies in my room and staying up late working on my projects. I studied art in University that is where I found abstraction. After years of continued exploration, that process led me to create what you see today.

Tell us more about your recent trip to Norway. What were your main takeaways from the experience?

I just came back from three weeks in Norway and it was incredible. It was simple in a lot of ways. My husband and I traveled with our two kids and although it wasn't your typical restful vacation, it was refreshing in new ways. We stayed up North in the small town my grandma grew up in. It was special to spend time in the cabin my great grandparents built. Sharing the same ocean they spent their days at. I felt connected to my heritage, a piece of where I am from. The pace is slower and simpler and I really appreciated that.

How do you balance being a mom of two and your creative job?

This is an evergoing process. It doesn’t always come easy. Some weeks I feel more tension than others. I can feel like I don't have enough time to paint, and other weeks like I just want a few weeks alone with my kids. My work comes in waves. The studio is always full of work and paintings come and go, but around collection launches or gallery shows it can be pretty full on. In these seasons, I ask for help where I can. We have a few days of childcare (thanks to preschool and wonderful caregivers).

Can you share any exciting developments or future plans for Joy Kinna Studio that we can look forward to?

We just finished a solo show In NYC at Sugarlift Gallery, and now we are taking a few months to rest and catch up on some back end things. We will likely be launching some new prints over the next few months and a whole collection around Norway will be launching in early 2024.

In your opinion, what does it mean to be a modern woman?

To me, a modern woman looks like someone who cares for others in addition to herself. Someone who understands she can work, play, rest. She can do it all (in seasons, maybe not all at once and that’s okay). A woman who has a deep love for herself and the world around her.

Could you share a small way you've introduced sustainability into your lifestyle?

In terms of fashion, I have been passionate about thrifting and second hand clothes for years. When I am ready to move on from pieces in my own closet, I love giving them to friends or finding ways to resell them. When I have pieces I need to add to my closet, I always exhaust my second hand options first, whether it is the local thrift store, poshmark, fb marketplace, asking my friends etc.

When do you feel most at peace?

For me it’s pretty simple. When I am close to the ocean and with the people I love, I am the most at peace.