DES MOINES ARTS FESTIVAL
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Arts & Culture Non-Profit Organization
Des Moines Arts Festival is one of the world's most respected festivals, hosting 195 of the nation's top artists in a beautiful urban street setting surrounding the 4.4 acres of John and Mary Pappajohn Sculpture Park. Fourteen-time winner of the coveted Grand Pinnacle Award from the International Festivals and Events Association, the outdoor festival celebrating arts and culture attracts more than 200,000 people yearly to its downtown location in Iowa's capital city and largest metropolitan area.
ARTWORKS
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Nonprofit
ARTSwork aims to strengthen the creative economy by developing the talent and skillset of creative entrepreneurs and artists and making youth connections with increased access to artists and arts education.
EMILY MILEWSKY
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Fine Arts
Emily Milewsky is a multimedia artist creating abstract acrylic landscapes and folk-art-inspired collage and embroidered still lifes. Her work celebrates texture, color, and the simple joys found in nature and everyday life. She earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Painting from the University of Northern Iowa and exhibits and sells her work through galleries and art festivals. Her landscape paintings are represented by Olson-Larsen Galleries in West Des Moines, Iowa.
MICHELLE LOVELL
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Photography
Michelle, the person behind the lens at Michelle Lovell Photography. A native Iowan, she is located in the Des Moines area and specializes in maternity, newborn, child, family and senior portraiture.
MARGO Z NAHAS
#459
Jewelry, Multimedia
Illustrator, painter, jewelry designer. Maker of beautiful things.
VENNESSA SIRES
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Painting, Multimedia and Interior Design
Vennessa Sires is an artist and designer whose work emerges through experimentation, intuition, and an ongoing exploration of form. Her practice is grounded in a deep respect for the creative process as something fluid, evolving, and unrestricted.
JENNY OTIS MILLER ARTIST
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Multimedia Artist
Jennifer Miller (she/her) is an award winning artist, educator, and arts advocate who was born and raised in Iowa City, Iowa. Her artistic career began with clay and continuously expands to encompass other materials such as papermaking, printmaking, and book arts. Jen has a deep and abiding reverence for crafts and is inspired to create work about her lived experiences. She holds an MFA in Book Arts from the University of Iowa Center for the Book (2025) and an MFA in Ceramics from the University of Iowa (2000).
CHAD R. MILLER
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Visual Art
Chad R. Miller is a painter, writer, and photographer whose work develops from the tension of competing or complementary concepts such as rootedness/restlessness, precision/fluidity, time/place, and presence/absence. He deals with themes of identity; travel, place and movement; memory and loss; direct sensory experience and illusion.
DESIGNS BY ANFAC
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Black & Red Henna Body Art and Experience
My henna business is all about creating beautiful, personalized body art for every occasion. I specialize in black and red henna designs that stands out, featuring detailed patterns with high-quality application. My passion for henna inspires me to being each client's vision to life, whether it's for weddings, parties, or just for fun. I focus on providing a professional yet friendly experience, making sure everyone feels special and leaves with a design they love. It's not just about the art, but it's about celebrating culture, creativity, and connection. I'm proud to offer something meaningful, unique, and crafted with care.
PAIGE PETERSON PHOTOGRAPHY
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Photography
Paige's photos are her art. And her camera is her microphone. It’s the tool she uses to communicate. To say something meaningful. It’s a daily adventure and constant privilege.
In Memoriam: MICHAEL VAN DYKE
In Memoriam: Michael Van Dyke
Michael began his professional journey as a graphic designer and later advanced into roles as a training manager and continuous improvement analyst with Gannett, a major newspaper publisher best known locally for the Des Moines Register and USA Today. His passion for improving work culture and efficiency took him across the country and even to India, where he left a positive impact on colleagues and teams far beyond his hometown.
JAY VIGON CREATIVE
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Fine Art, Design
Vigon earned his reputation by applying distinctively bold graphics to logo design, music packaging and fashion advertising. His clients include Lucas Films, Warner Bros., the University of California, Irvine and Gotcha Sportswear.
FAITHWERKS ENTERTAINMENT
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Artists Management & Marketing
Image Consultant NYIAD Certified in personal style also provides 11:55 Podcasts!
MADE TO MUSE
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Fiber, Clay, + Community
Katherine (Kat) Hutchison (she/her) is a fiber artist based in Des Moines, Iowa, whose work reflects a deep connection to people, places, and emotions. With a diverse background in a variety of crafting techniques — including embroidery, hand sewing, weaving, quilting, and punch needle — Kat has spent years refining her craft. Her art captures personal stories and memories, with each piece thoughtfully composed to convey the layers of experience, creativity, and emotion that define her journey.
Kat’s passion for fiber art, combined with her lifelong goal of being an art teacher, has manifested in many forms. She has been teaching embroidery and fiber arts to children and adults since 2015, both through local groups and her favorite non-profit, the After School Arts Program.
In March 2025, Kat became a Oxford Certified Punch Needle Instructor and is excited to offer creative and engaging punch needle courses for both beginners and experienced enthusiasts.
