My Story

Welcome. My name is Kim Zahnow, a creator at heart. For 25 years, I’ve specialized in photography and encaustic painting. I use these mediums to share the beauty I see in people and in the world around me.

I was introduced to art by watching my grandmother create as a kindergarten teacher, artist, and seamstress. I loved helping her and the feeling of being included as she created. She made art a special place for me. This is a picture of artwork from my 3rd grade art class. When I was in elementary school we took a class field trip to the Indianapolis Museum of Art. I felt connected and alive that day. I remember starring out the bus window and thinking I want to be an artist when I grow up.

Pictured here is the back of a program. I would listen to the music and allow myself to freely interpret the music through my art.

My mother was in a professional symphony orchestra. As a child I spent countless hours in concert halls listening to rehearsals and performances. Art was how I entertained myself.

Pictured here is a portrait in charcoal that created in school. There is just something about Albert Einstein that I have always loved.

I struggled in school. I was misunderstood, alone, and out of place. In 6th grade I was accepted into a “gifted and talented” school for fine arts. This school was a lifeline for me. I was in a new environment where being an artist was embraced. Art continued to be my way of expressing myself and connecting with the world. Sketching, painting, pottery, photography, glass blowing, and more. I want to get my hands dirty and create.

Pictured here are my three kids when they were young. Seems like yesterday! They are grown now and on their own.

My first career was in social services. I had a variety of positions over the years. I worked as a play therapist with abused children, lived and worked full time in a youth facility for teens, worked as a live in social worker in a homeless shelter for women and children. Over time, I became exhausted, discouraged, and burned out. I decided to go back to college for photography and pursue my first love, being an artist. As I think back over the years in social work, art was with me. I photographed and created with people. I remember a mothers day that I photographed portraits of the women and children in the homeless shelter. The mothers expressed to me that these were the only pictures they ever had of themselves and their children. This got to me. I painted happy wall murals in gloomy places and spent time creating art with children and youth. I love that I can use art in helping people on their journey.

As a single mom, I went back to college, balanced school, work, and kids. I am not sure that I slept in those years. After I graduated I opened a portrait studio and began photographing everything. My passion and drive to produce quality work made the variety of opportunities a space to improve. Focusing on one area was not going to put food on the table in these years. I have photographed birth, life, and last days. Every genre of photography I have thrown myself into learning. I appreciate this time because I wanted to give my best so I worked hard to learn lighting and the technical aspects of photography. These years helped to shape me into the photographer I am today.

In 2015 I listened to my heart and opened a studio in Saugatuck, Michigan. This was a special moment for me because I was fully listening to my own desire and starting a new journey. Saugatuck has allowed me to grow as an artist and see myself as an artist. I have met and photographed incredible people and places.

J.Petter Gallery in Saugatuck, Michigan is a stunning fine art and wine gallery. I will not forget the day the curator walked into my studio and offered to sign me as an artist. I was humbled and so excited.

Pictured here is my work displayed at the gallery.

2019 was the year I found my love for photographing rock concerts, had all access to photograph Forbes 30 and Under Summit, and began traveling the world for a coffee project. Then….the pandemic paused these opportunities.

My travels started back up in August 2021 with Chiapas, Mexico. This trip covered coffee farms, an incredible orphanage, and communities.

Pictured here I am crossing a bridge the farmer built to get to his farm. I was told the handle hand been recently installed. (Phew)

After this trip, we paused again for 6 months navigating covid and wars. I start again in March 2022. I continued my travels throughout Africa and Central America until August 2024.

Pictured is one of my encaustic paintings sold at J.Petter Gallery in Saugatuck, Mi. I felt particularly connected to this painting. I realized after I was finished that it was a good representation of my journey. I wanted to walk away from it many times but I kept persevering. Layer after layer the beauty emerged. I create in every moment and will continue to do so the rest of my life. I look forward to see what is next.