I've been fortunate to travel throughout the United States and around the world. I've lived in California, Texas, New York, Costa Rica, China, Ireland.... and, of course, my home state of Minnesota. Every place I've called home has left its mark on me.
What I've come to realize is that every region has its own visual language. The flora and fauna are different. The wildflowers, the colors, the landscapes, and even the quality of the light tell a unique story. A loon belongs to Minnesota. A Joshua tree belongs to the Mojave Desert. Bluebonnets belong to Texas. These are more than shapes and symbols they're part of a place's identity.
As I traveled, I noticed something missing. So much of the artwork we decorate our homes with could belong anywhere. Beautiful as it may be, it often lacks a connection to the places that have shaped our lives.
That realization became the foundation for TAALLA.
I wanted to create artwork inspired by the native wildlife, plants, and landscapes that make each region unique. My first collection celebrates Minnesota its loons, pines, deer, robins, cardinals, and wildflowers reimagined through bold forms, contemporary color, and a Scandinavian inspired approach to design. Rather than recreating nature exactly as it appears, I aim to capture its character in a way that feels both modern and timeless.
But Minnesota is only the beginning.
My vision is to build collections for every region of the United States, each inspired by the native flora and fauna that define it. Every place deserves artwork that feels like it belongs there. Artwork that reminds people of where they grew up, where they return each summer, or the landscapes that continue to shape who they are.
The name TAALLA means "here" in Finnish, and that simple word captures everything I hope this work becomes. Wherever here is for you—a quiet lake in Minnesota, the California coast, the deserts of the Southwest, or the forests of the Pacific Northwest I hope the collection that I create can help you bring a piece of that place home.
Because every region has its own story.