Austrian Folk Art ~ Originals by Monique

When she moved from Austria to the United States as a young bride, Monique had no idea that she would one day fuse the deeply rooted folk art traditions of her native country with inspiration gleaned from the Colorado Rockies to create her own unique art form.

Gliding with ease from stylized Austrian roses to hummingbirds and columbines and snowy mountain scenes, Monique has captured the best of the Old World and the New, and brought them to life in a wide variety of glass ornaments and other decorative mediums.

In some of her latest endeavors, she has created panoramic murals, including still life depictions and portraits of the seasons, much to the delight of her many customers, who are able to enjoy her blend of tradition and innovation on their dining room walls or in entryways and alcoves.

Monique and her grandson Dylan

Monique and her grandson Dylan

Monique grew up in the small town of Urfahr, on the banks of the Danube River between Salzburg and Vienna. Austria is a country permeated by art and culture, and it’s not surprising that she her very soul is infused with the colorful traditions of Bauernmalerei. Some American art enthusiasts would recognize that art form as a relative of what is called Tole painting. Simply put, it likely originated as a homespun way of decorating simple wooden farm furniture with warm and friendly patterns.

Monique at her show
Monique at her show

But the Austrian version of this folk art evolved into a highly stylized form of its own, requiring special brushes, paints and most of all, painstaking practice of the technique that enables artists like Monique to finely depict tender blossoms, stems and leaves of beloved native wildflowers.

Monique grew up in the small town of Urfahr, on the banks of the Danube River between Salzburg and Vienna. Austria is a country permeated by art and culture, and it’s not surprising that she her very soul is infused with the colorful traditions of Bauernmalerei. Some American art enthusiasts would recognize that art form as a relative of what is called Tole painting. Simply put, it likely originated as a homespun way of decorating simple wooden farm furniture with warm and friendly patterns.

But the Austrian version of this folk art evolved into a highly stylized form of its own, requiring special brushes, paints and most of all, painstaking practice of the technique that enables artists like Monique to finely depict tender blossoms, stems and leaves of beloved native wildflowers.