Mo Golden is an artist and entrepreneur based in Olympia, Wa. She is the lead designer and creative director of Studio Golden, a design studio specializing in hand-made, one-of-a-kind, functional art objects. Mo is also co-owner of the award-winning game company, Heart of the Deernicorn. In 2018, Mo co-founded Gold Herring, where she served as Creative Director and Lead Illustrator until 2023.
People have described Mo’s artwork as joyful, comforting, patient, and deep. Her images hold a tenderness and a wisdom. Mo’s process involves alternating between translucent color wash layers and layers of small dot patterning. After 10-20 of these layers, the painting appears to pop out of the canvas, while also pulling the into a vast space beyond the surface.
Her work is rooted in her personal exploration of belonging, home, and otherness. Her art is place making and holds the intention to cultivate a sense of belonging and arrival in others. Mo works in figurative and abstracted styles, and in paint as well as ceramics. The through line in her work is expressing emotional worlds that are often unseen, bringing forth new insights and perspectives to relationship between people and place.
Education
- PhD student (current), European Graduate School, Saas Fee, Switzerland., Expressive Arts and Creativity Studies
- MA, George Washington University, Washington, D.C., Education & Human Development In Cultural Arts Contexts
- BA, Evergreen State College, Olympia, WA., Interdisciplinary Arts
Artist Mentors
Marilyn Frasca
Deborah Koff-Chapin
Yanka Mikhailova
Mariana Gabor
Laurie Mufson
Kristi Higby
Mark Flowers
Cathy Leaycraft
Dan Shapiro
As an extension of her art practice, Mo has led programming and created curriculum for organizations in the US and Latin America, related to creativity, experiential learning, and cultural competence.
Some of the organizations that have used Mo’s work
