Artist Biography

Born in Paradise Valley, Kalla first began drawing at the age of eleven months. As her drawing and painting media ‘graduated’ from the kitchen chairs onto sketchpad, canvass, and then transformed into sculpture and 2 dimensional works as an adult, creating Art has been an integral part of her life.

In 1995 Kalla won an art scholarship for an intense two week program with the Marie Walsh Sharpe Foundation in Colorado Springs, CO. The artist was able to study and grow with other distinguished artists and students to learn and share various techniques with paint and sculpture media.

During her attendance at the University of Arizona, Kalla was the Publicity Relations Director for the Project Volunteer University Activity Board.  One of her published contributions to the group was the ONE DAY logo.  Kalla also worked as the designated liaison for the Dean of Student's Advisory Council as well as for the Art Advisory Council at the University of Arizona.

In 1996 Kalla was honored with the Golden Plate Award and invited to attend the American Academy of Achievement Honorary Retreat in Sun Valley, Idaho. Kalla shared this honor with other young scholars in other fields such as: writers, scientists, athletes, mathematicians, musicians, and thespians from around the United States. Renowned Arizona artist, Fritz Scholder, was Kalla’s sponsor who also attended with other sponsors and mentors such as: Tom Selek, Maya Angelou, Bruce Willis, Scott Hamilton, Larry King, and Rosa Parks.

Kalla graduated from the University of Arizona with a Bachelor of Arts degree, Triple Major with a Magna Cum Laude and Honors Distinction in May of 2000. Her honors thesis, The Science of Spirituality and the Creative Mind, reflected her interests which propelled her to both Science and Art.

Kalla has illustrated published works for: Dr. John DiMaggio, a doctor of podiatry for a book of Medical collections of illustrative work…as well as for Dwane Hilderbrand, a Certified Latent Print Examiner, Senior Crime Scene Analyst, and Footwear Examiner for the City of Scottsdale.  The artist has also worked as an illustrator for an associate professor of Psychology, Dr. Mary Peterson, at the University of Arizona illustrating figure-ground visual stimuli for psychological research projects.

Kalla has sold figurative work to professors of surgery, Dr. Marlys Whitte, M.D. and Charles Witte, M.D., at the University of Arizona as well as to private collectors. Prior to her attending the University of Arizona, she was also commissioned by the Scottsdale Mayo Clinic to contribute a permanent piece for the Tribute to the Woman Project in 1997. Of the 34 participating Arizona artists, Kalla was the youngest contributor at 19.

Tia Kalla continued to actively participate in the art community through teaching Two-Dimensional art classes to adults at the Scottsdale Community College. She also actively participated with the Scottsdale Cultural Council with the organization and event planning for popular public events such as: The Annual Art Festival, SMoCA Nites, The Culinary Festival, Imagine-Nation, and other festive art community events in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Kalla currently works to build art exhibit opportunities for artists through the Laveen Art League as Vice President of Exhibits and Show Committee, in Laveen, Arizona.   Kalla is an active participant in the League's activities to increase art awareness and networking for local artists in the Laveen area.

Kalla was one of the first original members of the Laveen Art League founded in September of 2006 and was also the designer of the group's logo.  Her work with the League has recently resulted in their acceptance as the newest member of the Arizona Art Alliance in May 2008. She had coordinated the League's first art exhibit in Scottsdale, Arizona at the BRIO Fine Arts Center, exhibiting "Just Miniatures;" a show celebrating the unexpected power and beauty of small things. In the fall of 2008, Kalla became a Juried Artist of the Arizona Art Alliance.

Updated information for the Laveen Art League can be found via the group's website: http://www.laveenartleague.org.

Her current body of work includes individual hand-cast molds of her dramatic figure sculpture.  Kalla has also recently began resurrecting a favorite media, Oil Pastel on Board. With every hand-made mold created or Oil Pastel original, Kalla gives each piece a distinct variation, one unlike the next, designating uniqueness to each finished piece. This allows patrons to enjoy one-of-a-kind details in her purchased work.

For a list of Artist's Publications, Exhibits, and Awards, Please visit the Publications, Exhibits, and Awards Link.