2022 ARTISTS

City Sounds is proud to be a supporter of local art and local artists. Here are the talented creators who will design pianos for the 2022 season. 

Chandler Condon

Chandler Condon’s art is a reflection of nature, a celebration of the taboo, and a glimpse into phantasmagorical worlds. Her intention is to call in projects around community building, conservation, music, and art for all. Currently, she is finishing her final year at Rocky Mountain College of Art and Design in Illustrative Design. You can usually find her sketching flora and fauna by a river, painting other worlds at school, or collaborating with her artist community.

Jill Wells

Iowa-based, multimedia artist Jill Wells is best known for her narrative works investigating race, history, accessibility, stereotypes, and human experiences. Her practice works to cater beyond sight. Born 1980, in Des Moines, Iowa, Wells was raised in Indianola, Iowa. She studied at Drake University (BFA 2005). She obtained her CADC in 2015. An award-winning artist, Wells has been in practice for more than 20 years. Her artwork is represented in many permanent collections.

Bailey Nielsen

Bailey is an illustrator and designer based in West Des Moines. She earned her degree in Graphic Design from the University of Northern Iowa and now works as a UX designer. Outside of her daily work, Bailey spends her time exploring many creative pursuits with a focus on digital illustration. Her style has been described as intricate and whimsical.

Hannah Claire

Art has been my biggest passion since I was a very young child. It all began with staring at my grandma's art and listening to her talk about it. In many ways she made me see that dreams are worth chasing. One day a few years ago I realized that I had gotten lost in trying to just get through life, forgetting to even have a dream. I decided then that it was time for things to change because without my dreams I would never find the joy I have now. So here I am chasing my passion and hoping to inspire a few others along the way.

Ally Frame

“I grew up thinking that art has to be deep and serious. Because of that I have struggled to consider myself an artist for a very long time as my work is lighthearted and playful. I am now learning that what I create is still art and serves a very important purpose - spreading joy. Every day I walk a fine line between being okay and anxiety so it is important for me to create images that put a smile on my face. My favorites to create are whimsical nature scenes and animals doing silly things. My hope in sharing these creations will put a smile on someone else’s face and make their day okay too.”

Lauren Pesta

Lauren is a Des Moines local creative. As a painter, muralist and mixed media artist, her current work is multi-layered by using old book pages, vintage magazines and postcards along with painting to create abstract pieces rich in travel and adventure. Her mission as an artist is to honor life experiences and meaningful moments through visual storytelling.

Meagan Tron

Hi, I’m Meagan Tron! I am a Des Moines based artist, though I have experience in California as well. I live with my cat, Peenelope, and he is a traveler, too. I like to use acrylics to paint on canvas, as well as air brushing. I enjoy interactive art, whether it be body painting, public art or makeup.

Laura Todd

A painter and a teacher, she currently has her studio in Sherman Hill where she creates paintings on commission and dives into her own practice of portrait and landscape painting. Her style is both calming and energizing with an emphasis on vibrant color and texture. Currently, Laura is working on expanding her mural portfolio in both private homes and public businesses around the metro. She loves teaching youth the art skills that can help place them on their own creative path. She is working on building her own lessons to teach out of her studio with talented young artists in the community. Her main mission is to give her art where it’s needed most.

Roosevelt High School Art Students

A group of 12 art students taught by Nicole K James and Mary Pat LaMair, each designed and executed their own portion of the piano. At Roosevelt the mission of the Fine Arts Department is to provide creative curriculum, technical development, and engaging opportunities that will ignite a personal passion for every student enrolled in a fine arts course. They try to instill in their students and community a life-long passion for the performing and visual arts that results in personal and professional artistic pursuits beyond high school.

EBISU

“EBISU” is a 20 year old graffiti artist/muralist, from Cedar Rapids, IA. In less than a year as a professional artist he has painted in events in Tampa, FL, Memphis, TN, and more, including Kosmic Kingdom Music Festival in Des Moines. He began using aerosol paint at 17, and began pursuing a career in the arts at 19.

Erika Hotchkin

I am a small business owner, mom, wife and Queen of Everything. For the past 9 years, I have been running a face and body paint business local to the Des Moines area. You might have seen me at Blank Park Zoo, a friend's birthday party, an outdoor festival or private event. I have an associate degree in arts and animation. It wasn't until I had my second child that I used my art and education professionally. I love to transform people into something new and temporary. Face painting is a transformation that sparks imagination.

Danelle Jamtgaard

Danelle is a West Des Moines artist who plays in acrylic and oil paints. She remembered her childhood love of painting 5 years ago after moving from NW Iowa when her kids left the nest. It gives her great joy to paint bright, happy beaches, palm trees and flowers and she hopes they bring others joy to see them.

Ali Hval

Ali currently lives and works in Iowa City and is a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Iowa. She has completed over 30 public art projects across the United States, from Iowa to Florida, but mostly within her home state of Iowa. She has also shown her interdisciplinary ceramic and fabric based work in multiple spaces such as Site: Brooklyn and soon the Gadsden Museum of Art. She has received grants from the Iowa Arts Council and the Center of Craft, Creativity, and Design in Asheville, North Carolina.