About Zee Arteest

Linnea was born in Minneapolis on the eleventh day of the eleventh month and was carried home during a snowstorm. She grew up in the small town of Mound and always drew. Her attraction to visual drama started early: when she was only 32 inches tall, she stood in the kitchen doorway and was shocked as Grandma removed all her teeth at once. This was the first vivid image that impressed itself on her memory; a prelude to a lifetime of visual thinking.

Later, leaning on the bark of a thin limb midway up her favorite maple tree, Linnea was touched by the tenderest breeze. It was filled with the sensation of perfection and she could feel it contained all the secrets of the alternate nature of the universe. The sensation of unutterable beauty has caused years of daydreaming and unremitting attempts at translating the elusive feelings into shapes communicating complexities bigger than words, a little picture guide to these unidentifiable but poignant emotions.

Linnea studied illustration at Washington University In St Louis and cultivated her current graphic style after taking a woodcut print class, where under the direction of a spontaneously combusting maniac she developed a penchant for triphop in the wee hours of the morning and putting thick outlines around objects in her drawings.

In 2004 the Robots invaded.

Currently, Linnea spends her time making art under a skylight in south Minneapolis. Her projects include acrylic and oil paintings, murals, commissions, virtual reality, and freelance illustrations. She ventures from the easel to the stage for action painting collaborations with rock bands, classical saxophonists, and electronic music DJs. Her previous projects include furniture design, botanical illustration, and a coloring book. Future goals include a giant Robot mural takeover, making pictures for children’s books, seeing Monet in every museum possible, and staring at the sky through moving branches.

Her thoughts are still all pictures, and she fills pages of sketchbooks with secret nonsense and meandering doodles, out of which evolve series of characters brimming with internal dialogue. Linnea paints them into pictures to nudge you to believe in her imagined reality where colors are twice as bright, love is infinitely more vivid, and the world is condensed into simple, crystallized pleasures, so just a smile ignites a connection to make any distance small.

say hello

SOLO EXHIBITS

2023 Mar-May // Bobas, Bots, & Video Games, Matt’s Basement, Stillwater MN
2023 Jan // chroma melodic bridges, Newburyport Arts Association Mural Gallery, Newburyport MA
2022 Nov // Prickly Love, Fractal Cactus, Minneapolis MN
2022 Jul // BRUSH|REED Feature, Newburyport Arts Association Little Gallery, Newburyport MA
2022 Aug - 2023 Mar // A New Light,Chroma Gallery REM5, St Louis Park MN
2022 Jul-Sep // Solo Show, Sweeney Todd’s Salon, Minneapolis MN
2019 Aug // Gallery Night, Darling Retail Emporium, Minneapolis MN
2019 Jul-Aug // Run With Scissors, Cryptid Parlour, Minneapolis MN
2019 May // Sprinkles On Top, Sleepy V’s, Minneapolis MN
2019 Mar // Tasty Treats, Sebastian Joe’s Linden Hills, Minneapolis MN
2018 Nov // Donut Break, Sleepy V’s, Minneapolis MN
2018 Aug // More Please!, Sebastian Joe’s Linden Hills, Minneapolis MN
2018 Jun // Peachy Keen Robots & Ice Cream, Sebastian Joe’s Uptown, Minneapolis MN
2017 // Buttered Up Again, Butter Bakery, Minneapolis MN
2016 Oct-Dec // LINNEA,Modus Locus, Minneapolis MN
2016 May // Proof, Showroom, Minneapolis MN
2015 Sep // Downpour, Chinchilla Umbrella Gallery, Inglewood CA
2013 Jul // Debut, Showroom, Minneapolis MN
2013 Apr // Stage Fright, Maestoso Music Studio, St Louis Park
2013 Mar // Robot Invasion, Salon Ori, St. Paul
2013 Mar // They Had Lasers, Pizza Luce Downtown, Minneapolis MN
2013 Mar // First Thursdays, Studio 316, Minneapolis MN
2012 Dec // Coffee Robot, Dunn Bros Eagan, Eagan
2012 Jul // New Vintage, Buffalo Exchange, Minneapolis MN
2012 Jul // Paint & Grapes, Northern Vineyards Winery, Stillwater
2011 Dec // Tiny Love, Butter Bakery Cafe, Minneapolis MN
2012 Apr // Mod Robots, FindFurnish Showroom, Minneapolis MN
2012 Feb // Paralyzed, Honey Lounge, Minneapolis MN
2012 Jan // Action, WorkAround Coworking, Minneapolis MN
2011 Jun // Summer Bright, Janine’s Coffeehouse, Minneapolis MN
2011 Apr // Bird Themes, Ginkgo Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2010 Dec // Losing Direction, The Independent, Minneapolis MN
2009 Dec // Art Underground, Honey Lounge, Minneapolis MN
2006 Jul // Shift Change, Sandy Green Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2005 Apr // Something Springy, Caffe Tempo, Minneapolis MN
2004 Jun // Cairdeas Coffee, Cairdeas Coffee, St Louis, MO

GROUP EXHIBITS

2023 Jun-Nov // A Little Wild, The Wilderness, Minneapolis MN
2023 Mar // Joysome!, Dairy Arts Center, Boulder CO
2023 Jan // Canine/Feline, Nordhaus Tiny Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2023 Jan // In/Reflection, Eagan Art House, Eagan MN
2023 Jan // Artist Showcase, Westwood Hills Nature Center, St Louis Park MN
2022 Dec // Raging Art On Invitational, Gamut Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2022 Nov // NFT_curious, Hewing Hotel Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2022 Oct // The State of Blockchain, Fueled Collective, Minneapolis MN
2022 Jul // FAVRIT Giving Genesis Artists, FAVRIT NFT Project, Global
2022 Jun // Eye to Eye, Fresh Eye Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2022 Jun-Nov // Artist Gallery, Tower Lofts Art, Minneapolis MN
2022 Jun // Come As You Are! A Pride Art Exhibition, Inez Greenberg Gallery, Bloomington MN
2022 May // Art4Shelter, Virtual Exhibit, Minneapolis MN
2022 Jan // Artist Showcase, Brookview Center, Golden Valley MN
2021 Dec // Raging Art On Invitational, Gamut Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2021 Nov - 2022 Mar // P5 Gallery, Prospector Suites, Park City UT
2021 Sep // NEMAA 10x10, Virtual Exhibit, Minneapolis MN
2021 Sep // St Louis Park Art Fair & VR Live Painting, The ROC, St Louis Park MN
2020 Dec // Raging Art On Invitational, Gamut Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2020 Sep // NEMAA 10x10, Virtual Exhibit, Minneapolis MN
2019 Sep // NEMAA 10x10, Northrup King, Minneapolis MN
2019 Aug // Lady Arts, Sunday B Morning Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2019 Jun // First Thursday, James Nutt Studio, Minneapolis MN
2019 Jun // 6x6x2019, Rochester Contemporary Art Center, Rochester NY
2019 May // Art-A-Whirl, Kolman-Pryor Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2019 Apr // Final Four, Fhima’s Restaurant, Minneapolis MN
2019 Apr // Unicorn Art Show 5, Jac Flats NE, Minneapolis MN
2018 Mar-Sep // Artists Wanted, Night Art Gallery, Lindstrom MN
2017 Dec // Raging Art On Invitational, Gamut Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2016 Nov // Exhibicion de Pintura en Realidad Virtual , Alcaniz, Spain
2016 June-Aug // CONDOLENCE, Ambiente Gallerie, Minneapolis MN
2016 Mar-May // Love, Art, & Jewel, The Coal Miner’s Daughter, Milwaukee WI
2015 Nov // Inglewood Art Walk, Inglewood CA
2013 Apr // Harriet Brewery: Robotartbeer, Harriet Brewery, Minneapolis MN
2013 May // Art4Shelter, Burnet Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2012 Nov // Northeast Arts Storefront, Gaviidae Commons, Minneapolis MN
2012 Jan // Pop Up Gallery, Ad Hoc Art Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2011-2012 // NE Artist Feature, Hazel’s Restaurant, Minneapolis MN
2010 Feb // Foot in the Door 4, Minneapolis Institute of Art, Minneapolis MN
2008 Dec // Robots & Ceramics, Frank Stone Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2012 May // Art at One, One Yoga, Minneapolis MN
2012 May // Art4Shelter, Burnet Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2012 Apr // Marcy Arts Gala, Soap Factory Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2011 Jun // spotOut, Spot Art Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2011 Apr // Glitter Ball 4, Grainbelt Bottling House, Minneapolis MN
2011 Apr // Deviant Art, Northrup King Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2012 Dec // Holiday Show, Dave Royce Gallery, White Bear Lake MN
2012 May // Spring Boutique, Mills Church, Minnetonka
2011 Nov/Dec // Whimsy, White Rabbit Variety Shoppe, Minneapolis MN
2011 Nov/Dec // Featured Visual Artist, Mama’s Happy, Mound MN
2011 Aug // Juried Exhibit, ArtiCulture, Minneapolis MN
2008 Mar // Living Art, Anodyne, Minneapolis MN
2007 Nov // Mural Gallery, Eastside Coop, Minneapolis MN
2007 Mar // Art to /Di/ For, Anodyne, Minneapolis MN
2006 Mar // Art is the Key, Anodyne, Minneapolis MN
2005-2018 // Art-A-Whirl Annual Art Crawl, various locations, NE Minneapolis MN
2005 Apr // Dunn Bros Local Flavor, Dunn Bros, Minneapolis MN
2004 Dec // A Show of Art, Fallout Urban Art Center, Minneapolis MN

PERFORMANCES

2023 Aug 11 // figment (Live Art + DJ Paul Knox), ROK Music Lounge, St Paul MN
2023 Apr 22 // figment (Live Art + DJ Paul Knox), ROK Eatery, St Paul MN
2023 Apr 08 // Spree + InsideTheRobot: LIVE at SakuraCon, Seattle Convention Center, Seattle WA
2023 Mar 12 // BRUSH|REED, University of Southern Missouri, Hattiesburg MS
2023 Jan 26 // ArtBattle MN Live Art Competition, Jersey’s, Inver Grove Heights MN
2022 Dec 10 // figment (Live Art + DJ Paul Knox), ROK Eatery, St Paul MN
2022 Jul 07 // Brush & Bass (Live Art + DJ Paul Knox), Sweeney Todd’s Salon, Minneapolis MN
2022 Jun 25 // ESC 4.0: Experiential Sensory Collective (Live VR Painting) REM5 VR, St Louis Park MN
2022 Jun // Tanqueray Pop Up (Live Painting), Stone Arch Bridge Festival, Minneapolis MN
2022 May 20 // Right Clique (Live VR Painting) REM5 VR, St Louis Park MN
2022 May 14 // BRUSH|REED, Firehouse Center for the Arts, Newburyport MA
2022 May 13 // BRUSH|REED, Newburyport Arts Association, Newburyport MA
2021 Sep 4 // The Infinite Game (Live VR Painting + DJ Paul Knox), REM5 VR, St Louis Park MN
2021 Jul 9 // TiltBrush Battle, Live VR Art Competition, 2nd Place, REM5 VR, St Louis Park MN
2021 Mar 26 // ESC 3.0: Experiential Sensory Collective (Live VR Painting) REM5 VR, St Louis Park MN
2021 Mar 21 // BRUSH|REED Reflection & Hope Livestream, Minneapolis/Boston
2020 Aug 09 // BRUSH|REED Finale!, Virtual Summer Series Livestream #6, Minneapolis/Boston
2020 Jul 26 // BRUSH|REED with Yoshiko, Virtual Summer Series Livestream #5, Minneapolis/Boston
2020 Jul 12 // BRUSH|REED Dance, Virtual Summer Series Livestream #4, Minneapolis/Boston
2020 Jun 21 // BRUSH|REED Underrepresented Composers, Virtual Summer Series Livestream #3, Minneapolis/Boston
2020 May 31 // BRUSH|REED George Floyd/Black Lives Matter, Virtual Summer Series Livestream #2, Minneapolis/Boston
2020 May 17 // BRUSH|REED Debut, Virtual Summer Series Livestream #1, Minneapolis/Boston
2020 Feb 21 // BRUSH|REED, Eastern Connecticut State University, Windham CT
2019 May 23 // BRUSH|REED, Gamut Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2018 Sep 18 // BRUSH|REED, Boston University, MA
2017 Oct // Simultaneous (Live VR Painting + DJ Paul Knox), Kingman Studios, Minneapolis MN
2017 Oct 22 // BRUSH|REED, Casket Arts, Minneapolis MN
2017 Oct 20 // BRUSH|REED, University of Iowa, Iowa City IA
2017 Oct 19 // BRUSH|REED, U of Northern Iowa, Cedar Falls IA
2017 Sep // Enticing Entertainment Live Art, Machine Shop, Minneapolis MN
2017 Sep // A Year in Four Hours (Live Art + DJ Paul Knox), Casket Arts, Minneapolis MN
2016 Jul 11 // BRUSH|REED, Tanglewood, Lenox MA
2015 Mar 11 // BRUSH|REED, Honey Lounge, Minneapolis MN MN
2014 Jun 01 // BRUSH|REED, Hong Kong City Hall, Hong Kong
2014 May 27 // BRUSH|REED, U.S. Consulate Hong Kong & Macau, Hong Kong
2013 Oct 23 // BRUSH|REED, Mansfield University, Mansfield PA
2013 Oct 22 // BRUSH|REED, Buffalo State, Buffalo NY
2012 Jul 10-15 // BRUSH|REED, 16th World Saxophone Congress, St Andrews Scotland
2011 // Loring Theater Live, Loring Theater, Minneapolis MN
2011 Jul 05 // BRUSH|REED, Tanglewood, Lenox MA
2009-2010 // Sample Night Live, Minnesota History Theater, St Paul MN
2009 Sep 25 // BRUSH|REED, Boston University, Boston MA
2009 Feb 01 // BRUSH|REED, Smith Center for the Arts, Providence RI
2008-2009 // Resident Painter with Marvelle, various venues Minneapolis MN
2008 Dec // Live Painting with Jazz Soloist, Frank Stone Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2008 Sep // Live Painting with Everett Smithson Band, Our Lady Festival, Mound MN

APPEARANCES, PRESS, & PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

2023 Dec 04 // Meet Linnea Maas, Interview, CanvasRebel
2023 June 08 // Conversations with Linnea Maas, Interview. Voyage Minnesota Magazine.
2022 Nov 04 // NFT_Curious Panel Discussion, Speaker. Hewing Hotel, Minneapolis MN.
2022 Sep 19 // The Shake Up “What Communication Professionals Need to Know about NFTs”, Speaker. PRSA Midwest District Conference, Bloomington MN
2022 Jan 26 // THE METAVERSE Beyond The Hype, Panelist. REM5VR, St Louis Park MN
2021 Oct 10 // NFTs: Digital Curiosity or New Model of Arts Patronage?, Interview. Walker Art Center/MN Artists, Minneapolis MN
2013 // Northeast Minneapolis MN Arts Association, Board of Directors. Minneapolis MN
2005-Present // Northeast Minneapolis MN Arts Association, Member. Minneapolis MN

GALLERY REPRESENTATION

2022 // Newburyport Arts Association, Newburyport MA
2018 - Present // Gamut Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2015 // Chinchilla Umbrella, Inglewood CA
2014 // Gallery 929, Santa Ana CA
2013 // The Abstracted Gallery, Minneapolis MN
2008 // Mezzolago Gallery, Minneapolis MN

PUBLICATIONS

2023 // Northeast Calendar, April illustration, produced by NE Minneapolis Arts District
2016 // Robot Adventure: Inside The Robot a coloring book for all ages Kaleidoscopia Coloring Books, editor
2011 // the stranger a haiku voiced from the roof of the world written by Iman Mefleh
2007 // Annals of the Missouri Botanical Garden Vol 94 no 4, Fig 1. A REVISION OF BOURRERIA (BORAGINALES, EHRETIACEAE) IN SOUTH AMERICA, by Marc Gottschling and James S. Miller
2005 // Adansonia Vol. 27 no. 1, Fig 1. A synopsis of the genus Cynoglossum (Boraginaceae) In Madagascar and the Comoro Islands, by James.S. Miller

EDUCATION

1998 - 2002 // Bachelor of Fine Arts (cum laude) Visual Communications, Washington University (St. Louis, MO)

RECOGNITION

2000 // Study Abroad, Santa Reparata Graphic Arts Centre, Florence, Italy
1998-2002 // Washington University Academic Scholarship, Elizabeth Bland Memorial Scholar