Check Out Megh Knappenberger’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Megh Knappenberger

Hi Megh, so excited to have you with us today. What can you tell us about your story?
I began painting in grade school and always was a creative kid. I received a degree in Visual Communications from KU and moved to Chicago after graduation to start my career as a graphic designer. After working in the home office for a large restaurant chain, I broke off to begin freelancing and began building my own agency that specialized in the foodie and fast casual restaurant space. After a few years, a series of big life changes prompted me to question that career and consider whether I could actually be a full-time artist. I decided I’d never know unless I gave it my all. So, in the fall of 2016, I began painting as my job as haven’t looked back. Over the years I have continued to explore my style and subject matter, but it is largely inspired by the Midwest. I was raised in St Louis and have spent all my life here. I think the places I have called home have shaped the person I am. Celebrating those subjects in my work is my way of connecting with these places and the many other people who love them as well.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Has anyone’s road been smooth? I think the very definition of being an entrepreneur is continuing to show up and move forward when things don’t go as planned. I was lucky to be the child of entrepreneurs, and I come from a long line on both side of small business owners. I was able to see firsthand what that meant, and taught from a young age (when I had to clean the toilets at my parents’ office) about what it meant to work and be persistent.

My husband and I moved from Chicago back to Kansas City in 2013 to begin putting down roots and starting our family. A few years in, when our son was one, I slipped down our stairs and hit hard on one side. This was at the peak of my design firm’s success, I was working with dream clients, making good money, but I could tell something was missing. As someone who loves making things with my hands, sitting at a computer all day moving things around a screen was not filling my need for tangible art. The injury from that fall continued to get worse over a few months until I was in so much pain I couldn’t work, much alone sit down. I decided to fold that business, move out of my studio space, let my couple of employees go. I was in rough shape. But during that time, I began to paint a bit. It was something productive I could do standing up while I was healing. And that was when I began to ask myself if I could really do that as my job.

In that first year the savings from my business coupled with the few commissions I was able to garner ran out just as I was waiting for a yes/no from KU’s licensing department. I had gone all-in on 6 large Jayhawk paintings in the hopes they would grant licensing rights to me – not something easy to come by. When they said yes, I had less than $1 in that account but it was the fuel I needed to make this work.

Like any small business it has had its ups and downs over the years since. It was hard for me to paint during a difficult second pregnancy and my studios have been in almost every room of our house, including the garage, as well as a few other places outside our home. But I love the West Bottoms and have been in this space now for almost 4 years.

I could write many more paragraphs about the ways in which this has been hard. But I have kept at it and continued to pivot when things didn’t work and I’m proud of where I am now. Being an artist is a pretty cool job.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work is inspired by my Midwestern roots and love of storytelling. Before I start painting, I dive deeply into research about my subjects and often incorporate nontraditional materials in to my work. Some of those materials include limestone Rock Chalk mixed in to the paint of my original Jayhawks, confetti from the Super Bowl added to celebratory paintings, and over 30 carats of diamonds bejeweled onto a portrait of Wonder Woman for the American Heart Association’s Go Red Auction in 2019. For a piece celebrating KU’s native flora and fauna, I concocted a rich brown ink from campus walnut trees. In each case, those physical materials helped to enrich the story of that subject.

I am most well-known regionally for my local sports artwork, and for being one of the only artists ever granted licensing by KU. I created a Jayhawk National Champions heart for the first Parade of Hearts in 2022 that is permanently on display now at Allen Fieldhouse. I also created celebratory artwork for the last three Chiefs Super Bowl wins and was commissioned by American Century to create portraits of four of our KC Current players. I was also commissioned to create an 11-piece collection of original paintings for the new Jayhawk Welcome Center on KU’s campus. This collection, titled “Origin Stories,” celebrates the deep historical roots of KU’s most iconic traditions and is on permanent display.

My work can be described as riotously colorful, filled with splats and drips and scribbles. I primarily work in acrylic paint using a palette knife, but love mixing other mediums into my work such as inks, oil crayons and markers. The resulting work is energetic, layered and always filled with a variety of colors.

What matters most to you?
My family and community. At the end of the day I think we’re all hustling to create the freedom in our lives to spend quality time and have meaningful experiences with the people we love. None of it really matters without that. I want to create a legacy of kindness, generosity and love and believe I can do that by pursuing this profession about which I am so passionate.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.meghmakesart.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/meghmakesart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/meghmakesart/
• Twitter: https://x.com/meghmakesart
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@meghmakesart