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Public Art
Women’s Work: An Artistic Dialogue of Hope Through the Eyes of Women with Disabilities 2022. Founding member of community public art group dedicated to raising the visibility and voices of women who are vulnerable and those that hide their disabilities. This group is including those women that have been excluded from vitally important conversations around that directly impact them.
Barn Quilt Project 2022. First in a series of Barn Quilts and other non-traditional quilts, this work is a 6'x6' barn quilt done in acrylic paint on wood. The quilt is a conversation stitching together feminist art, disability and equity in the tradition of women's quilting. The piece gives voice to the marginalized, bringing them from the edges of society, highlighting the strength and beauty of everyone. Additionally, the quilt was photographically displayed on a billboard in St. Bonifacius, MN. The first Accessible Public Art Quilt by Kristin and Anne Krocak. Installed on barn in Cologne, MN.
We All Belong 2021. An improv workshop series and photo journal project around diversity. This workshop brought community members together to listen to and participate in discussions with experts and other community members about topics concerning minorities and other traditionally marginalized groups and had them apply their learnings in photographic format. These images were then used in several exhibits in the area to further the reach and scope of the project. Funding from the MN State Arts Board and the Clean Water Land & Legacy Amendment.
Hearts of Glass 2002. A project to create and install stained glass art windows at the entry of a Habitat for Humanity condominium building in Chicago. Kristin created this project because she knows how important it is to live with beauty. She worked with Habitat for Humanity and the residents of the condo building to imagine and design the windows. Additionally, she secured private funding for the project.
Beyond Borders 2002. Traveled to Johannesburg, South Africa with Mission Antarctica to attend and film during the World Summit on Sustainable Development.
Filmed 46 young people from 31 countries that have journeyed to Johannesburg, SA to attend the 2002 World Summit on Sustainable Development, bridging political, cultural and religious divides to bring the message of Mission Antarctica to the world.
I am Kristin Lebben, an award-winning fine artist focused on sculpture and photography based in the greater Minneapolis/St. Paul area, Minnesota, United States. From very early on, the essence of an artist has coursed through my veins, shaping my being and influencing my creative journey.
My artistic story began in the humble confines of my family’s garage, where my father would tinker and show me how to use the tools I would employ to craft my imaginative wonders. Those early days were the inception of my artistic exploration, fueling my insatiable desire to create and express.
At the age of 12, during a Christmas party, serendipity gifted me my first camera, an instamatic 120 mm. This cherished instrument opened a portal into the world of photography, a passion that has accompanied me on my artistic journey ever since. Photography evolved into a profound avenue of capturing life’s fleeting moments, preserving them in the frame’s embrace, a visual mirror through which we can forever glean wisdom.
I am driven by the potent capacity of art to mirror life, share experiences and provoke profound introspection. Art, to me, is an exhilarating journey that ignites the senses and leaves an indelible mark on humanity.
My artistic journey is a marriage of raw materials and creative vision, manifesting through the mediums of bronze, steel, stone and the lens of my camera. It is a fusion of materials and design, refined to create artworks that speak to connoisseurs of visionary design and sophisticated aesthetic.
In the realm of sculpture, I traverse the abstract and the figurative, navigating the dance between tangible forms and evocative shapes. The interplay of positive and negative spaces within my sculptures breathes life into my work, infusing it with dynamic energy and inviting observers to explore the piece from every angle. Rhythm, another element dear to my abstract heart, serves as a magnetic force, pulling the viewer in to experience the visual symphony of my pieces. As a dedicated student of design and composition, I continually experiment with these fundamental elements to craft more compelling pieces that elevate the aesthetic landscape.
My abstract works grant me the freedom to explore how diverse elements create distinct and fulfilling experiences for the astute viewer. The degree of abstraction becomes my clay, a spectrum where my essence as an artist is etched into the very soul of the work. Each abstraction is an invitation to explore the depths of perception and witness the power of artistic expression.
In my figurative work, whether in sculpture or photography, I strive to capture ephemeral moments, profound gestures and evocative emotions that resonate deeply with the human experience and tell stories in a frozen fraction of time. These works are windows into fleeting narratives, inviting connection and contemplation.
Furthermore, I am captivated by the intriguing interplay between materials, forms and cultural contexts. Living in the heartland, I have observed the distinct responses of individuals to various mediums and styles, shaping my understanding of art’s impact on diverse audiences. This dynamic dialogue between form, material and observer fuels my artistic curiosity, inspiring me to challenge and engage those who encounter my creations.
Ultimately, my art is an invitation – a provocation to venture beyond the surface and delve into the rich tapestry of thoughts and emotions that lie within. Through sculpture and photography, I aspire to evoke a visceral response, leaving an indelible imprint on the soul of the beholder.
Commissions accepted, please contact Kristin directly.
Kristin holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Studio Art from Lawrence University in Appleton, WI and an AAS degree in Commercial Photography from Hennepin Technical College in Eden Prairie, MN where she was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, a national academic honor society. She has also extensively studied under sculptors Nick Legeros and Heidi Hoy.
Additionally, Kristin was selected to participate in the Missouri Photo Workshop in 2012. MPW was founded in 1949 to map the path for photojournalism’s future and continues to be dedicated to passing on the fundamentals of photojournalism.
In 2013, Kristin worked as the photojournalist for the Southwest Journal, The Downtown Journal, The Journal, MN Good Times, Minnesota Parent. This included photographing the candidates for the year’s Minneapolis Mayoral race.
Publications
Troy - Stories of growth in Missouri’s Cuivre River Valley, edited by Timmy Huynh, published 2013
Contributing photographer
Tropos, edited by Karl Brown, published 1993
Contributing artist
Selected Exhibits
2021 Society of MN Sculptors show, Oswald Center, U of MN Arboretum
2021 Sense of Place, Chaska Community Center Gallery, Chaska, MN
2020 Family & Portraits show, ACCC Gallery, Victoria, MN
2019 Society of Minnesota Sculptors show, St. Paul, MN Winner of Blue Ribbon
2019 Nokomis Gallery, Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center, Solo Exhibit “It’s Only the Beginning”
2016 Laura H. Miles Gallery, Minnetonka Center for the Arts
2014 Portfolio Exhibit, Hennepin Technical College
2013 Minnesota State Fair Fine Arts Competition, juried competition
2011 Warch Campus Center Gallery, Lawrence University, invitational exhibit
2011 Laura H. Miles Gallery, Minnetonka Center for the Arts, juried competition
2010 Charles D. Redpenning Gallery, Hopkins Art Center