About the Artist
Joanna Hallstrom is a portrait painter, illustrator, and designer in Minneapolis, MN. She creates in her studio at Wheelhouse in the North Loop.
Hallstrom become an professional artist after a career working in refugee resettlement and urban community development. Going went back to school with two preschool children, she pursued a career in graphic design and illustration and fell in love with painting.
Hallstrom painted her first oil portrait in design school and begin studying portrait painting. Upon receiving a grant from the Minnesota State Arts Board in 2018 Hallstrom had the opportunity to work under the invaluable mentorship of nationally known portrait painter, Bonita Roberts.
Hallstrom’s traditional oil painting training, through nationally recognized Minnesota artist Myron Sahlberg, is rooted in the teachings of Richard Schmid and Howard Sanden.
Hallstrom is currently exploring simplicity, contrast, and storytelling in her compositions.
Hallstrom does commission and illustration work as well as painting for gallery exhibitions.
Hallstrom’s real art education began in her father’s rural Minnesota illustration studio, where she would watch her father paint for hours while they listened to the radio together.
