A CREATIVE SPACE FOR ART, PEOPLE, AND POSSIBILITY
HIT ME UP IN REAL LIFE
HMUIRL is a creative space dedicated to elevating artists and enriching our communities through authentic connection and artistic expression. We exist to challenge the familiar, reveal the unseen, and empower artists to build meaningful careers together.
ABOUT HMUIRL
Built for Artists.
Driven by Community.
We know that talent is only the beginning. That's why we partner with artists at every stage of their journey; providing the tools, guidance, and visibility they need to thrive.
From portfolio development and professional resources to event planning and marketing, we handle the logistics so artists can focus on what they do best: creating.
Since our founding, we've collaborated with 70+ creatives and local businesses to bring art to new audiences and build a stronger, more connected creative community.
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER & CO-FOUNDER
Master of Business Administration
University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business
CIMBA Italy
2026
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking
University of Iowa, School of Art, Art History, and Design
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
2024
Anna Miller
Anna Miller is the Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of HMUIRL. With nearly a decade of experience working alongside artists, curating exhibitions, organizing community programming, and creating professional opportunities, Anna brings together the worlds of art and business to help emerging artists build sustainable careers and lasting creative legacies.
Her foundation in the arts was shaped by eight years of experience with the Lasansky Studio and Gallery, where she developed a deep appreciation for artistic preservation, community, and the realities of maintaining a professional creative practice. She later earned her BFA in Printmaking from the University of Iowa in 2024. Her research explored women’s rights and the political dynamics of Iowa, reflecting her continued interest in identity, the body, history, and the social structures that shape lived experience.
Anna’s impact is evident in the more than 120 creatives she has supported, many of whom have gained new platforms for visibility through events such as the North Side Market, Fashion Festival, Summer Pop-Up, Holiday Pop-Up, and numerous art demonstrations with the Iowa Print Group. By curating and organizing these opportunities, she has built meaningful bridges between artists, small businesses, and the public—making art more accessible while strengthening the local creative economy.
Her commitment to artists also includes preserving and sharing important creative legacies. Anna is currently archiving, exhibiting, and helping bring the work of Virginia A. Myers to new collectors and audiences. Through this work, she helps ensure that Myers’ contributions remain visible, valued, and capable of inspiring future generations.
Anna recently completed her MBA through the CIMBA Italy Business Program. During the yearlong program, she lived in Paderno del Grappa, a small town in northern Italy near Venice. While strengthening her knowledge of strategy, leadership, operations, and entrepreneurship, she remained closely connected to the passion that led her to business school in the first place: bridging the gap between business and art.
Throughout her time abroad, Anna attended art workshops, exhibitions, museums, and cultural institutions across Italy and other parts of Europe. These experiences allowed her to continue developing as an artist while gaining a broader understanding of international creative communities, cultural exchange, and the ways artists build sustainable practices in different markets. She balanced this exploration with the demands of graduate school and her continued leadership of HMUIRL.
Education and empowerment are also central to Anna’s practice, particularly in her support of underrepresented artists. Through garment construction and collaboration across seven fashion shows, she has helped creatives take bold artistic risks that amplify their voices. The seminars and workshops she leads move beyond technical instruction, inviting artists to examine personal oppression, the body, identity, and the societal structures that influence their experiences. By guiding participants in tracing these histories and collecting personal ephemera, she empowers them to create work that speaks authentically to their lived realities.
Through HMUIRL, Anna combines creative insight with business strategy to provide artists with mentorship, professional resources, visibility, and meaningful opportunities. Her dedication to mentorship, community-building, artistic exploration, and legacy preservation continues to strengthen Iowa’s creative landscape while expanding the possibilities available to artists and their communities.
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Artist Statement
The Political Remains Personal
Anna Miller’s practice examines how perception is shaped, distorted, and reinforced within an increasingly globalized society. Drawing from the constant circulation of images, headlines, social media, and political messaging, she investigates the tension between what is presented as truth and what is actually experienced. Across works on paper, wearable art, and sculpture, paradox and irony become tools for revealing the instability beneath familiar narratives.
Her work questions the social frameworks that define the relationship between the body and the world. By bringing overlooked histories, contradictions, and assumptions to the surface, Anna creates space for viewers to reconsider how identity is constructed and how collective beliefs influence the way people understand themselves and one another. Rather than offering fixed conclusions, her work invites discomfort, reflection, and closer examination.
Women’s rights remain a central focus of Anna’s practice. She approaches the subject through both historical research and contemporary observation, tracing the ways political decisions become deeply personal experiences. Her work considers key moments within the Women’s Rights Movement, including the Seneca Falls Convention and the 1968 Miss America Pageant Protest, alongside more recent legislative debates surrounding bodily autonomy and access to healthcare.
Iowa serves as a particularly significant setting within this research. Its history includes early participation in the women’s suffrage movement, while its current political landscape continues to shape conversations about gender, autonomy, and reproductive rights. Anna uses this contrast to examine how progress can coexist with repetition and how struggles once considered historical continue to reappear in new forms.
Through layered imagery, collected ephemera, historical references, and materials connected to the body, Anna creates visual narratives that move across time. Her work reveals recurring patterns within women’s political and social experiences while emphasizing the individual lives affected by those systems. At the center of her practice is the belief that politics is never entirely abstract; it is carried through bodies, memories, communities, and everyday choices.
Ultimately, Anna’s work asks viewers to look more closely at the structures they have inherited, the assumptions they may have accepted, and the realities that remain hidden beneath the surface. By connecting history with the present, she creates work that encourages empathy, critical reflection, and a deeper awareness of how personal experience and political power continually shape one another.
Resume/ CV
ANNA MILLER
Artist · Entrepreneur · Curator · Community Builder
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
HMUIRL Art and Studios
Master of Business Administration
University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business
CIMBA Italy Business Program
Paderno del Grappa, Italy
2026
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Printmaking
University of Iowa
School of Art, Art History, and Design
College of Liberal Arts and Sciences
2024
Research Focus: Illuminating the Intersection of Women’s Rights and the Political Dynamics of Iowa
LEADERSHIP & PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer
HMUIRL Art and Studios | 2024–Present
Leads a creative platform focused on artist mentorship, professional development, exhibitions, art markets, community partnerships, and direct-to-consumer opportunities. Through HMUIRL, Anna has supported more than 120 creatives through programs, events, collaborations, professional resources, and sustainable sales opportunities.
Lasansky Studio and Gallery
2016–2024
Developed extensive experience in studio operations, exhibitions, artist relations, archival work, creative community engagement, and the preservation of artistic legacies.
SELECTED CURATORIAL & CREATIVE EXPERIENCE
2026
Illuminating the Darkness: Time of Malfeasance by Virginia A. Myers
Artifactory, Iowa City, Iowa
2025
Live Painting Competition
The Cove Brewery, Deerfield Beach, Florida
Hosted Residency Program
Hybrid, Fort Lauderdale, Florida and Iowa
Art on Tap
Confluence Brewing Company, Des Moines, Iowa
Foiling Open House
Artifactory, Iowa City, Iowa
Virginia A. Myers Christmas Pop-Up
Iowa City, Iowa
Summer Pop-Up Event
Iowa City, Iowa
Northside Market
Iowa City, Iowa
Fashion Fest
Wright House of Fashion, Iowa City, Iowa
Uncultured
University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
ART MARKETS
2025
Sweet Tooth Market
Ames, Iowa
2024
DSM Northside Market
Des Moines, Iowa
Grrrl Days
Omaha, Nebraska
Hubby Days
Czech Village, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
2023
PS1 Big Grove Art Market
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City Flea Market
Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa City Night Market
The James Theater, Iowa City, Iowa
Shop Basement Collective Market
Czech Village, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
PUBLIC & COLLABORATIVE EVENTS
2024
237 Collective: Epoch Fashion Show
Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Spring Fling Fashion Show
Olympic Theater, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Melt Fashion Show
Cherry Building, Cedar Rapids, Iowa
Recycled Runway
University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Anna’s broader interdisciplinary experience also includes garment construction and collaboration across seven fashion shows, supporting artists and designers in developing work that explores identity, the body, personal history, and social structures.
BUSINESS WORKSHOP EXPERIENCE
2026
Bike Manufacturing Business Simulation
University of Iowa, Tippie College of Business
Enterprise Risk Management Manufacturing Simulation
CIMBA Italy
Flash Consulting Project: Olly
CIMBA Italy
Operations Simulation
CIMBA Italy
Project Analysis Workshop
CIMBA Italy
2025
LIFE Leadership Training
Paderno del Grappa, Italy
2024
Kepner-Tregoe Decision-Making Workshop
CIMBA Italy
Launching an Entrepreneurial Venture
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, University of Iowa
CONFERENCE & PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT EXPERIENCE
2024
Mid America Print Council Open Portfolio
Kansas City, Kansas
Frogman’s Print Workshop
University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Southern Graphics Council International Conference
Providence, Rhode Island
2023
New York Print Week
New York City, New York
2022
Santa Fe Indian Market
Santa Fe, New Mexico
2019
SOFA Chicago
Navy Pier, Chicago, Illinois
SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2024
TAAG Gallery
Iowa City, Iowa
Sculpture and Intermedia Open House
University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Bachelor of Fine Arts Exhibition
Visual Arts Building, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Drewelowe Gallery Honors Exhibition
University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
2023
Levitt Gallery Spotlight Exhibition
Art Building West, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Robert Blackburn Printmaking Workshop: Portfolio Review
New York City, New York
David Krut Workshop: Portfolio Review
New York City, New York
Uncultured
Visual Arts Building, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Reclaimed and Recycled
Public Space One, Iowa City, Iowa
Still a Little Green
Art Building West, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
Lasansky Studio and Gallery Exhibition
Iowa City, Iowa
2022
SACI Student Exhibition
Florence, Italy
2021
Great Big Picnic
Visual Arts Building, University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa
GRANTS, SCHOLARSHIPS & AWARDS
2025
Stefano Leadership Scholarship
CIMBA Italy
Consulting Scholarship
CIMBA Italy
Materials Grant
CIMBA Italy
2024
Best in Arts, JPEC Pitch Competition
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, Iowa City, Iowa
Art in Odd Places Honorarium
New York City, New York
First Place, Entrepreneurial Summer Elevator Pitch Competition
John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center, Iowa City, Iowa
Iowa Center for the Arts Scholarship
University of Iowa
RSFIC Neighbors to Neighbors Grant
Iowa City, Iowa
Mauricio Lasansky Memorial Scholarship
University of Iowa
Gabriella Nora Cross Memorial Scholarship
University of Iowa
Iowa Foil and Frogman’s Scholarship
University of Iowa
Outstanding Student Award
Surface Design Association
Research Supply Grant
University of Iowa
Dewey Stuit Fund for Undergraduate Research
University of Iowa
Spotlight Grant
University of Iowa
2023
Undergraduate Travel Grant
University of Iowa
New York Print Week
Ann Morse Study Abroad Scholarship
University of Iowa
European Ceramic Workcentre
Winter Institutional Grant
European Ceramic Workcentre
2022
CEA Study Abroad Scholarship
SACI Study Abroad Program
Iowa Abroad Scholarship
University of Iowa
SACI Study Abroad Program
2021
Hawkeye Retention Grant
University of Iowa
Federal Supplemental Educational Opportunity Grant
Higher Education Emergency Relief Fund Grants
University of Iowa
SELECTED RESEARCH & COMMUNITY IMPACT
Artist Development and Mentorship
Co-founded HMUIRL to connect more than 120 creatives with mentorship, exhibitions, art markets, professional resources, community partnerships, and sustainable sales opportunities.
Artistic-Legacy Preservation
Archives, exhibits, promotes, and helps place the work of Virginia A. Myers with new collectors and audiences, ensuring that her artistic contributions remain visible and continue to inspire future generations.
Curatorial and Community Programming
Has organized and supported exhibitions, pop-ups, markets, art demonstrations, workshops, fashion events, residencies, and collaborative programs that create connections among artists, small businesses, collectors, and the public.
Education and Creative Empowerment
Leads seminars and workshops that encourage artists to explore identity, personal oppression, the body, social systems, and lived experience through historical research, personal ephemera, and interdisciplinary artistic practice.
International Art and Business Experience
Expanded her international perspective through museums, exhibitions, workshops, and cultural institutions across Italy and Europe while completing her MBA and continuing to lead HMUIRL.
Creative Entrepreneurship
Combines artistic knowledge with strategy, leadership, operations, and entrepreneurship to strengthen HMUIRL and help artists develop sustainable, long-term creative careers.
CHIEF OPERATING OFFICER & CO-FOUNDER
Master of Business Administration Candidate
University of Michigan, Stephen M. Ross School of Business
Doctor of Pharmacy Candidate
University of Michigan, College of Pharmacy
Teresa Knecht
Teresa Knecht serves as the Co-Founder and Chief Operating Officer of HMUIRL, where she works alongside Anna Miller to build sustainable opportunities for emerging artists. Through her leadership, Teresa helps guide the organization’s operations, partnerships, events, and long-term strategy while ensuring that artists have meaningful ways to showcase, sell, and grow their work.
Her interdisciplinary background brings a distinct perspective to HMUIRL. Teresa is currently pursuing both a Doctor of Pharmacy and a Master of Business Administration at the University of Michigan. Her pharmacy training has strengthened her approach to structure, precision, problem-solving, and accountability, while her business education supports her work in financial planning, operations, organizational growth, and sustainable business development.
Teresa has played an important role in shaping HMUIRL into a practical resource for artists and creative communities. Her work includes coordinating events, developing partnerships with businesses and community organizations, and helping create revenue-generating opportunities that support artists beyond a single exhibition or sale.
HMUIRL’s early growth was recognized when the organization earned first place in the Elevator Pitch Competition through the University of Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center’s Undergraduate Startup Incubator Summer Track. This recognition reflected the strength of the organization’s mission and the complementary leadership Teresa and Anna bring to its development.
Through her work with HMUIRL, Teresa combines operational discipline with a strong commitment to the arts. Her goal is to help build an organization where artists have access to the structure, resources, visibility, and financial support needed to turn creative ambition into lasting careers.
Emily Edwards
Emily Edwards moves through the arts with the hands of a printmaker—layering, refining, and pulling new possibilities from what exists. As an artist and Chief Creative Officer at HMUIRL, she has shaped the space into more than just a platform—it’s a living, breathing ecosystem where artists can experiment, create, and be seen.
With a BFA in Printmaking, Emily understands the deep connection between process and expression. Her work at HMUIRL reflects this—she curates not just exhibitions, but experiences. Whether it’s guiding artists through the weight of ink on paper, arranging moments where art meets the public in unexpected ways, or fostering collaborations that stretch across disciplines, she ensures that creativity remains raw, tactile, and deeply personal.
Workshops under Emily’s direction aren’t just instructional—they are spaces of discovery. She encourages artists to engage with their materials like an extension of themselves, tracing the histories, textures, and narratives that shape their work. Through hands-on printmaking events and experimental showcases, she creates room for artists to push past limitations and carve out their own visual language.
Her leadership at HMUIRL is not about control—it’s about opening doors. She believes in process over perfection, in the messiness of making, in the way ink bleeds into paper like memory into skin. The space she cultivates is one where artists can be uncertain, bold, vulnerable, and unafraid to press into the unknown.
Through Emily’s vision, HMUIRL is not just a place where art is displayed—it is a place where art is formed, felt, and lived.
POLICY
Conditions of Return
- Exchange Options: Buyers can exchange an item for another of equal value
- Return Period: Items must be returned within 30 days from the date of delivery
- Shipping Costs: Buyers are responsible for the return or exchange shipping
- Item Conditions: Items must be returned in their original condition. If an item is not returned in its original condition, the buyer is responsible for any loss in value, as agreed upon with the seller.
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