Enhanced by printmaking’s history of narrative, my work explores the shared histories of humans, as told by animals. These compositions are full of animals within animals, a reference to animal cognition and spirits within animal bodies. Personal narrative is woven with mythical symbols and stories which make these pieces both familiar and challenging. Animals have no race, religion, or creed, can be as easily feminine as masculine or somewhere in between. Therefore, they can tell universal stories which weave anthropology, art history, and spirituality – our shared humanness – better than their human counterparts. In our ever changing and sometimes frightful present day, we need to be reminded of the universality of all things, including the human race.

I am a printmaker, artist and entrepreneur, born and raised in Denver, CO, now residing in Greeley, CO where I co-own and operate Wonderhand Studios, a cooperative printmaking studio. I officially fell in love with printmaking in college and earned my BFA from The Metropolitan University of Denver and then pursued my MFA in printmaking from George Mason University in Fairfax, VA. I have been the recipient of the Laila Twigg Smith Artist Residency Program at the Donkey Mill Arts Center, in Kona, HI, the Brush Creek Artist Residency in Saratoga, WY, Jentel Artist Residency in Banner, WY and was an Artist in Residence at Anderson Ranch Arts Center in Snowmass, CO. My work has found homes in collections worldwide, and more of it can be found on my website, www.johannamuellerprints.com.