Nissa Kauppila was born and raised in the small, rural town of Monkton, Vermont, and her connection to art has always been informed by a sense of community. Though she earned her BFA at the Rhode Island School of Design far from the forests and fields of home, she has remained active in local arts organizations and events. Her passion for collaboration and community involvement has most recently led her towards receiving her M.Ed. from UVM; Kauppila currently teaches both in the Design/Technology and Social Studies departments at South Burlington High School.
These series in gouache builds on Kauppila’s work in film, as she explores the delicacy of life and chaos in evanescent compositions that find stillness in movement. Following a several-year hiatus after art school, Kauppila is delighted to be painting again: exploring the freedom and creativity of flight with the rich fluidity of gouache has been a rewarding exercise in rediscovery.