Katayoun Amjadi

How and why did you become an artist?

I think I didn’t have much choice in the matter. I was simply one of those kids that didn’t really fit into the normal societal expectations. I was always most happy when quietly reading, drawing, painting. It has always been my way to be with the world. As a young adult, I tried to be an architect first because of its affinity with the visual arts, only with a better paycheck. I didn’t finish my graduate studies and instead worked as a drafter in an architectural firm for a couple of years. I realized that simply didn’t satisfy my need to be an artist, so I took the plunge of going back to school to study what I’ve been practicing on the side since I was a little girl. I was lucky to finally realize that being an artist wasn’t so much a choice of vocation or career, but rather it is simply who I am.

Art has given me a form of soft power, the power to speak my own truth in my quiet manner. I believe when you speak from the heart it touches the ones that are receptive to it.

What medium(s) do you work in?

I primarily work as a multimedia installation artist and ceramics is my main medium of choice. I also teach art, and work occasionally as a curator and a guest critic.

What is your connection to Northeast Minneapolis?

I live and work in NE Minneapolis. I started my first studio here in the Q.arma Building in 2015.

How long have you been working as an artist?

The definition of artist is used very broadly these days and any child that picks up a brush and puts some paint down can be called an artist. I was one of them. However, as a career, I’ve officially been working/publishing my work since 2014 right after graduating with a BFA in art from the U of M.

What are some of your biggest inspirations as an artist?

I’m inspired by everyday life, visual culture, signs & symbols, history and how stories are told. The culture of the NE Arts District animates my need to contribute to the world through my art. The Twin Cities has a remarkably creative arts scene that lies a little below the global radar, yet I’m consistently impressed and inspired by the quality of the work produced here.

My partner and I also travel whenever possible and visits to international museums, galleries and markets brimming with the work of others always seems to ignite a fire in me for new work, of seeing new possibilities, new ways to express myself.

How does Art-A-Whirl benefit you as an artist?

I get to greet fans and meet my people. I was a little shy about it at first, since I’m really kind of a private person, but quickly realized how much I enjoy speaking about my work with the public that come to Art-A-Whirl. You get all types, from those that know very little about art, but are curious, to those that are quite knowledgeable and engaged in the art world. There’s always a good story to tell or to hear. It’s also fun to see the same people that come to your studio every year to see what you have been doing. It’s heartwarming and inspirational to find that some of them have started to collect my work and look forward to adding another piece. I actually have a thing I call “Misfits”, items that for one reason or another didn’t make the cut, so are sold at discounted prices. People actually love to collect these, which is really delightful.

Any stories or memories of an experience at Art-A-Whirl that stands out?

Well there are too many to tell. My partner Jono and I have Art-A-Whirl as the anniversary of our most amazing love story. So there’s that! But it’s probably not the story you want here. Suffice to say that a three day festivity is barely enough to celebrate what we have.

Art-A-Whirl at the Q.arma Building is an experience that really escapes adequate description. There is so much joy and love between our crew and the public. Art is a key part of the experience for sure, but it’s deeper than that. There’s a palpable sense of community and family that you simply have to feel to understand.

And every year I seem to get a version of this question: “What’s up with the chickens?” This comes up every year and conversations around it. When I was in graduate school at the U of M I did a series of installations with various versions of cast ceramic chickens. The series developed around an old tale of the Nightingale and the Rose, a poignant story of unrequited love that has traveled through many ages and cultures. In my version the nightingale is a chicken, an everyday bird, one in every pot. The very first one was named “Chuck” and was an amusing little bird with a rather sharp sense of humor, but he was headless of course, because he appears as if he’s been plucked and prepped for the pot, so not many could understand how he could be so chatty and verbose.

What has being a NEMAA member meant to you? What do you value most about membership?

I really value the sense of community and belonging. 

NEMAA provides fantastic support and visibility for the artists and the Arts District: online shops, studio directories, rental listings, they provide links to workshops, residencies, installation opportunities, artist promotion and marketing, calls for art and educational resources.

Last, but not least! Art-A-Whirl is the biggest open studio event in the country and just wouldn’t happen without NEMAA.

What do you wish more people knew about the arts scene in Northeast Minneapolis?

Generally I would like people to be more aware of the vital contribution the creative sector makes to the cultural and economic legacy of the Twin Cities.

Even though this statement is not true for all artists, for many art is not just a hobby it’s a profession, it’s a dedication, working tirelessly often without holidays. I think a lot of people feel that art is a casual pastime, and indeed it may be for some, but a dedicated artist works very hard indeed, especially those whose livelihood depends on their work. Our culture seems to undervalue art generally, which challenges the viability of art as a way of life. 

I think it’s hard for some to recognize this, since for most of the year we are all in our studios, quietly working on our projects, and really kind of invisible to the world. This changes dramatically when we have open studios, and during Art-A-Whirl in particular. There’s a sense that the art-work just suddenly appears, but it’s really the result of working hard day in and day out.

Art-A-Whirl and NEMAA turn 30 years old in 2025. Can you believe it? What changes have you witnessed?

My studio in NE turns 10 years old in 2025. I can’t believe it! I have seen a gradual increase in the participation in Art-A-Whirl, and I believe it is now the largest open studio event in the country. Now there seem to be more that come for the food and music but they also manage to wind their way through the studios and visit with the artists, so it’s all good. It’s still very much a fabulous and festive experience.

Why is art important in our community?

The Northeast Minneapolis Arts District is the creative anchor for our neighborhood, and art is simply a fundamental part of our identity. We are known locally and nationally as a vibrant, cohesive community of makers, artists and creative enterprise. I think there are over 1,000 studios in NE, and dozens of galleries, countless open studio events, and of course there’s Art-A-Whirl: three days of unbelievably good fun and such a fantastic opportunity to connect with artists and the community at large. I believe having the arts community here fosters a sense of belonging and fosters dialogue and engagement across all of our diverse backgrounds. Art is a unifying force, but also provides the opportunity to see the world differently and so has in it an expansive quality while making the space for people to connect and build relationships.

I believe the creative community is critical to the cultural and economic health of the neighborhood and the Twin Cities. If you track the growth of the arts community in NE, you can see that it has been a draw for restaurants, brew-pubs, makers of all kinds, and various creative industries, which in turn attracts visitors, and stimulates local spending and in turn, creates more opportunities for artists and entrepreneurs.

Can you imaging a world WITHOUT the arts community in Northeast Minneapolis? How would the community be different?

I’m a transplant here and my first Art-A-Whirl tour back in 2010 when I just arrived in Minneapolis made me want to stay and grow roots here. It’s safe to say that I likely wouldn’t be in NE without the presence of the Arts District and NEMAA. The vibrant character, community and culture of NE is due in no small measure to the creative activity NEMAA and the Arts District represent and foster.

It would be a harsh blow even imagining the loss of the NE arts community. I think perhaps many creative types would migrate out of this town in search of another NE MPLS elsewhere. It’s hard to imagine what NE would be like without the arts community since that community has been building roots here for the last 35+ years. I imagine that the arts scene has at least in part contributed to the more recent development of restaurants, brew pubs and distilleries. So it’s quite possible that we would see fewer of those had the art scene not been here in the first place.

What are your hopes and dreams for Art-A-Whirl, NEMAA, and/or the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District in the next 30 years?

I would like to see Art-A-Whirl and NEMAA thrive, stay, expand, and engage a more diverse population, and to have 2 or more NE-wide events per year.

I think it’s critical for the City to recognize the importance of the creative community and its contributions to the economic and cultural vitality to our lives. The City needs to develop a genuine, supportive and collaborative working relationship with the artists, makers, and studio-arts buildings in order to ensure their livelihood.

The Twin Cities consistently rate in the nations top cities with respect to the Creative Vitality Index (CVI). I believe NEMAA and the Arts District are key contributors to this, but I also believe that it is an evolving process and we need to continue to build on what we have.

If you could make one change in Northeast Minneapolis, no matter the cost, what would it be?

I would make it more artsy with outdoor public art on the streets that connect all the art buildings together. I would love to see an arts district that can function like an open-air sculpture garden that you can wander through to find each building and also get a sense of the history of NE: of how it was once a bustling, industrious community of workers, factories and warehouses, and has now become a vibrant community of creatives, artists and makers in re-purposed old building stock.

I believe to do this well would involve collaborative engagement with the city planners, cultural historians, activists, developers, artists and creative makers. Much of this is articulated in the Minneapolis 2040 Plan and is captured in the spirit of what NEMAA does and what the Northeast Minneapolis Arts District is all about. Now is the time to build on what has been done thus far. NEMAA and the Arts District are critical to the vision of a more robust, vital creative future.