Renee Kuharchuk
Visual Artist
Bio
Renee Kuharchuk is a female painter and teacher living and working in the Chicagoland area.
Attending a small private elementary and middle school, she had never experienced a traditional art class. Art became a considerable part of her life after being introduced to her first class as a teenager in high school. Kuharchuk received her BFA in painting and sculpture from Elmhurst University while also double majoring in Art Education to earn her professional teacher's license. Having a childhood without much art, she was passionate about sharing art with young minds and being a positive art influence for students who may not have been able to express themselves.
Renee also works as a high school visual arts teacher striving to support her students in developing their personal artistic practice. She pushes her students to create fine-quality work while exploring their artistic style and voice. She encourages her students to strive to self-assess their portfolios while learning to critique and participate in showing their work to the public.
In 2021, Kuharchuk graduated from Concordia University with her MA in Education, focusing on differentiated instruction to make her content area accessible to all students. Due to her involvement in supporting high schoolers within the art world, she is also a member of art ConnectEd through the Illinois High School Art Exhibition team as their Digital Gallery Assistant Director.
While being an educator, it was important for Renee to continue her personal artistic practice. Her work captures close-up portraiture that experiments with brushwork and dynamic abstract colors. Through painting the human form, these works explore themes of feminism and the human experience. As a woman battling anxiety and depression, her art brings to light these powerful emotions. Her practice is a means for self-healing and, on a broader scope, awareness of our inner battles.
