Valerie Wahna
As the owner of a Design Studio and a multi-disciplinary artist, I’ve made it a priority to incorporate my past fine arts and corporate worlds together using new techniques and innovative materials. The years since receiving my degree in printmaking and working as a Creative Store Design Manager developing prototype stores, brought me the unique opportunity to put my artistic training and corporate to work in a wide variety of areas. After teaching at Kent State, working in advertising, and managing retail design teams, I’m currently refocused on teaching and developing VW Design Studio with a small team of collaborators focusing on public art. Through work with Downtown Grand Rapids Inc., I’ve been able to both help support public art in Grand Rapids and participate as a public artist. Valerie has had several solo exhibits and group shows regionally. She currently lives, in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
SELECTED HONORS, AWARDS, AND SHOWS
2023 ARTPRIZE, Life is But a Dream, DeVos Convention Center, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2023 Tis’ the season to be prickly, World of Winter, Public lighted sculpture for the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan
2023 Starlight, Permanent public lighted sculpture for the City of Grand Rapids, Michigan
2022 You, Me, and a Butterfly, World of Winter, public art, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2022 Snowpeople, DGRI Placemaking Grant for public art window display, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2021 ARTPRIZE, You Me and a Butterfly, Grand Rapids Public Art Museum, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2021 Beam Me Up Snowpeople, DGRI Placemaking Grant for public art window display, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2020 Members Show - Small Works, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2020 DGRI Placemaking Grant for public art, Fish Splash Sculpture, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2019 Members Show - Small Works, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2019 Odds & Ends, National Juried Exhibition, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2019 Rad American Women from A-Z, Juried Public Art Project, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2018 Waterloo Arts Regional Juried Exhibition, Waterloo Arts, Cleveland, Ohio
2018 Is there a Mother in the House? Regional Juried Exhibition Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, Illinois
2017 117 Gallery Shop, Ann Arbor Art Center, Ann Arbor, Michigan
2017 ARTPRIZE, International Juried Exhibition, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2017 Light Gallery + Studio, featured artist “Patterns of the Multitude”, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2017 Gremlin Art Gallery, Jenison, Michigan
2017 Lightfast Coffee + Art Collective, featured artist “Notions of Identity”, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2017 Art Downtown, featured artist, Manifest, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2017 Lions and Rabbits, Spring Show, Grand Rapids, Michigan
2011 Borders Concept Store project featured in Stores & Retail Spaces 11
2011 Member of Visual Merchandising and Store Design Advisory Board
2010 West Park Project, (public park installation finalist), Ann Arbor, Michigan
2010 Gallery Project, Imaging the Future Show, (installation work) Ann Arbor, Michigan