Community Sparks: Celebrating Our Local Visionaries

At A Wandering Fire, we believe that local artists are essential to the spirit and identity of our communities. To kick off our Featured Artist series, we are proud to introduce you to Audrey Dahl, an artist who’s played a unique role in shaping our own creative identity,

Audrey’s vibrant paintings immediately draw viewers into an emotionally present and inspiring world. Audrey’s journey is one of passion, resilience and connection, from her beginnings as a young artist to her first mural commission on our oven.

Finding Her Visual Voice

As a child, Audrey was always creating and rarely seen without a sketchbook. Her love for art deepened during her teenage years when she discovered art therapy as a tool for emotional expression. “At sixteen, I was intensely struggling with my mental health, and art therapy was one of the many resources that I tried,” Audrey shares. 

This pivotal moment ignited a passion that would lead her to pursue art as a personal and professional path. By the age of nineteen, she was selling her work and running her own small business.

For Audrey, inspiration comes from two primary sources: color and emotion. Spending time in nature, she finds beauty in the natural world’s color palettes, blending them into her work. She also draws deeply from her feelings, using her art to explore complex emotions. “I am always creating things in an attempt to capture how I feel,” she explains.

Art as Connection and Reflection

Audrey’s connection to the local community profoundly influences her creative process. “The local community influences my creative process by energizing me and allowing me and my work to feel appreciated,” she says. This sense of connection fuels her creativity and inspires her to share her art.

“I hope my art will bring joy wherever it goes,” Audrey says. “I want it to be an opportunity for people to celebrate the beauty of existing”

One of Audrey’s recent works holds a particularly special place in her heart. It’s her largest painting to date, a continuation of a series she’s been developing for years. The piece features a blend of faces melting into each other—a design Audrey has been experimenting with for some time. This painting became a deeply personal project, born out of her journey of self-reflection following a brain injury. Audrey says, “I painted this piece to capture that disconnect, and it was a very healing process for me.”

A Creative Partnership with A Wandering Fire

Audrey first met A Wandering Fire founder Maaren and her partner Sean during the Saint Paul Art Crawl in the fall of 2022. While selling her artwork at the event, an unexpected conversation sparked a new friendship and creative collaboration. 

“They approached me about a painting I had done, and they told me they loved my piece,” Audrey recalls. That conversation led to the opportunity for her to transform one of her designs into a mural on our oven—an experience that would become a memorable milestone in her career and ours. 

Audrey’s design for the A Wandering Fire oven is nothing short of a masterpiece. She effortlessly translated her existing painting into a mural that wraps around the oven in a vibrant, groovy display of color. The result? A bright, colorful and joyful oven that perfectly matches the spirit of A Wandering Fire.

Audrey’s Advice to Other Artists

“Keep creating!” Audrey says. “Make as many things as you feel called to. Don’t be scared to share your work with the world, even if you are unsure, as it will resonate with the right people. Also, remember that you are your own worst critic, so always be kind to yourself.”

Fired Up for a Colorful Future

We are honored to feature Audrey’s work at A Wandering Fire, and we look forward to seeing how her art continues to inspire and uplift those around her. As Audrey continues to evolve as an artist, she remains committed to “capturing the colorful energy of the people in the community.” Through her work, she hopes to bring joy, reflection and a celebration of the beauty of existence to all who encounter it.

To learn more about Audrey Dahl and view her latest work, visit her at the next local arts event or follow her creative journey online. 

Stay tuned for more updates on our featured artists and upcoming community events at A Wandering Fire!