ABOUT
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MONA LERCH
FOUNDER OF ART MUMS UNITED
"I wish to make my audience feel what I feel when I am creating. It's not just about decorating your house with a soothing piece of art but also about opening your hearts and minds to little things that really matter."
Mona Lerch is a self-taught contemporary visual artist, artist coach, podcast host and the founder of sister platforms Art Mums United and Women United ART MOVEMENT. She is also the host of Women United ART PODCAST, co-host of Art Mums Podcast and Chief Editor of Women United ART MAGAZINE. Mona currently resides in Brno, Czech Republic.
Mona started as an abstract oil painter but her creative passions and love for experimentation led her into watercolor botanical illustration and portraits, linocut prints, collages and recently also acrylics. She uses both life and work experiences to give shape to unique pieces of artwork that are characterized by elaborate structure and layers. In her paintings, she loves to combine natural elements with geometry. Her pieces are intuitive and offer space for the viewer's imagination.
Being a nature lover and a passionate advocate of ecological lifestyle, she digs deep into her fantasy to materialize her own inner world on canvas. Her mission is to create a narrative embodying the beauty we have around us that we forget to see and to break the boundaries between the body and mind. Originally a dancer, dance teacher and choreographer, her art speaks of movement and the importance of being present in every moment of our lives.
Mona believes that art has healing powers as it helped her to overcome postpartum trauma that was accompanied by depression and anxiety. She’s passionate about sharing her journey and she hopes to inspire other women artists to step outside of their comfort zone and reach the sky.
Mona is a member of several art directories and communities – All SHE Makes, Visionary Art Collective, Creative Lady Directory, Where Are The Women Artists and Art Queens Society. She’s shown her work with Women Artist Born Global Network, The Unicorn Factory, Visionary Art Collective, Brandi Hofer Art Gallery, The Purposeful Mayo, The Curator’s Salon, PxP Contemporary and Deep Space Gallery. She's been interviewed on various international podcasts and her work has been featured in Create!, Art Seen, New Visionary, All SHE Makes, and The Huts magazines.
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VALENTINE SVIHALEK
COLLABORATOR
"I wish for everyone to embrace themselves fully, unearthing the natural beauty and energy within."
Valentine Svihalek is a Belgian and American contemporary visual artist, international educator, podcast host, and mother of two. She's an advocate for women finding their unique path to success in the arts.
Living and teaching in diverse communities around the world, she cultivated a desire for discovery and development. After the birth of her first child in a village surrounded by people who spoke a different language, she felt isolated. Supported by Artist Residency In Motherhood Program, turning inward she developed a process of art making that liberates expressive energy and establishes connection. This experience, combined with graduate studies in philosophy and postgraduate studies in teaching, literacy, and culture in San Diego provided the foundation for her work.
Passionate about education, connecting people and opportunities, Valentine founded Art Mums Europe. She leads the Mastermind and collaborates with Art Mums United. Inspired by her community work, she published The Imperfect Artist Mother Journey as a reflection on postpartum experience. Valentine has exhibited her work in galleries in Europe and with the Jewish Museum Prague, and curated online exhibitions. She is co-host of the Art Mums Podcast and is a member of a variety of directories and artist organizations such as Spilt Milk Gallery, The Art Queens Society, Create! Magazine, Artist-Mother Network, and ARIM. She believes the key to living well is trusting your voice and embracing your passions.