About Koryn Rolstad
Koryn Rolstad of Seattle, Washington, has earned an international reputation as a public artist since 1975. She established Koryn Rolstad Studios (KRS) after graduating from the University of Washington with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Fine Arts, with studies in Environmental Design and Architecture. Her holistic approach integrates visual and physical identity while achieving goals for community education and interaction.
Rolstad's works and vision have influenced the Seattle waterfront's identity and development. Her commitment to building the 1996 AIA Honor Awarded Banner Building initiated Belltown's transformation into a very desirable neighborhood. Her concept to provide creative and self-employed individuals the opportunity to own and build out their units was the first of its kind, bringing art and commerce together, rejuvenating a distressed neighborhood. The Banner Building was recognized globally for this innovation, winning several awards.
Throughout Rolstad's career as a public artist, her criteria for successful project collaboration is supported by her community stakeholder background and can best be described in her own words: "the enjoyment and impact of the installations must relate to the people who support, work and interact within their environment." Rolstad's installations include numerous projects over $100,000 throughout the United States and can also be found in Canada, Aruba, The Netherlands, Germany, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa, Armenia, and Uzbekistan.
Rolstad has been recognized with many awards for her work, and has provided many publications regarding architecture and designing public spaces. She is an Affiliate Assistant Professor for the College of Arts and Sciences at the University of Washington and Affiliate Lecturer at Howard University in Washington, DC. Rolstad holds a Bachelor of Arts in Fine Arts from the School of Environmental Design/Architecture of the University of Washington, and also holds a Certificate in Russian Language, Literature & Culture from the University of Moscow, Russia.