About
FORMAL BIO:
Andrea Skyberg received her BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art before earning a Fulbright Fellowship to Nigeria, working with Girls Power Initiative. She received an MFA in Fiber Art and Museum Studies from UW-Milwaukee, where she also curated the Union Art Gallery. She’s currently an assistant professor at Alverno College, where she is the Director of Art Education & Art Therapy. In addition to her art and education work, Skyberg is also the author and illustrator of five award-winning picture books.
Some stuff about me…
- I’m happiest when I’m making things, whether that means writing books, making music, or creating art.
- I love fixing up things like old houses, thrift-store clothes, or curb-side furniture. I think the books Mandy by Julie Andrews and the Boxcar Children by Gertrude Chandler Warner were big influences on my shabby to chic interests.
- I’m a teacher because I feel purpose when I’m sharing things with other people. I also have a strong aversion to hierarchy and I believe education is a great equalizer.
- My favorite color is bright coral (almost fluorescent), but I also love Kelly green.
- Every time my family & I travel somewhere, we find a sewer grate with the location engraved on it and take a picture with all of our feet.
- I trained to be a Zumba instructor but realized that the whole reason I love Zumba is so I can live in the moment and not plan so now I’m happy to follow the lead of the fantastic teachers at the YMCA.
- I get excited about thoughtfulness and deep thinking, but not pretentiousness or inauthenticity.
- I’m been s l o w l y learning how to play banjolele and the guitar
- I feel most wild when I’m riding my Harley around Milwaukee.
- I met my husband in a kickboxing class—I liked the way he moved.
- In high school I was voted class weirdest.
- The animal I identify most with is a black bear.
- I love dressing up in costumes for events and festivals.
- For over ten years I’ve been part of an amazing creative writing group, but we morphed into a folk rock band called Bourbon in the Basement—go figure!
- My daughters are named after each of my grandmas.
- Laughter is great medicine. Some things that get me rolling are the comedy show Superstore, comedian Taylor Tomlinson, and my hilarious husband.
- I’m terrified of heights.
- Live music is magic and I live in a city that brings some amazing artists and music festivals. My best concerts to date are Larkin Poe, Peaches, Sir Chloe, Ani Difranco, Shovels & Rope, Lizzo, Alanis Morissette with Garbage, and The Lumineers—in which me and my family were randomly selected to watch from the pit!
- I’m most at peace when I’m at home with my husband and two daughters, who also love to make art, write books, and compose songs.