My name is Tessa Koller, and I am an artist and author originally from St. Charles, Illinois, a quaint town west of Chicago. Though I was born and raised here in STC, the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design brought me to Milwaukee. In 2008, I earned my Bachelor of Fine Art and lived in Milwaukee for fifteen years. A month before earning my college degree, I was diagnosed with a rare disorder caused by a microdeletion of chromosome twenty-two. It affects every aspect and system down the center of my body. That means I have heart disease, lung disease, chronic pain, Fibromyalgia, and many more conditions such as POTS. Despite my many health challenges, my artistic abilities have carried me through those hardships in my life.

In 2019, I relocated back to St. Charles and continued pursuing my creative passions here. My art is inspired by nature, the environment, and my health. People are also a source of inspiration, and I have been drawing portraits since I was seven years old. Since then, art has been my form of communication, and I actively engage in the process of drawing, painting, and pushing the envelope with style and method using a variety of mediums.

While I am active in many artsy industries, I make time daily to write, draw, and paint because these are now my livelihood and my way of navigating life. Art is my remedy and allows me to enjoy every facet of living. Today, I manage a portrait drawing business accepting commissions for individuals and families. I also draw portraits of musicians, celebrities, and all kinds of people and do a lot of cross-marketing in different industries with other like-minded artists. Collaborating with others is the best way to build communities online and offline and work with wonderful artists and visionaries.

Thank you for stopping by my website. While you’re here, check out my online art shop, where you can buy originals or prints here. Email me at my contact form for public speaking engagements, Podcasts, interviews, or other collaboration inquiries.