Ina Beierle & Alexis Kanarek

Teaches at The Art Center Highland Park

MFA Northwestern University, BFA School of the Art Institute Chicago. Instructor Northwestern, Art Encounter. Widely Exhibited.

A fascination and love of every aspect of the creative process had led Alexis back to The Art Center. A native of the North Shore, her first drawing class at age eight was at The Art Center’s first home in Highland Park known as the “The Ice House”!Alexis was formally trained as a Graphic Designer with a BFA from Northern Illinois University.  She worked for Michigan Avenue firms as a Designer specializing in package design, museum exhibits, annual reports and corporate identity.Upon moving to the suburbs as a wife and mother she brought her work closer to home and began a life long journey to learn it all.Primarily a Fiber Artist, with studios in Highland Park, Alexis participated in The Art Center’s Studio Walk.  She has displayed her work in all of the juried art shows in the area and has been represented by many of the finer craft galleries.Other than a hiatus to manage her husband’s medical practice, Alexis has devoted herself to learning about many forms of artistic expression.  Areas of exploration and expertise include beading, enameling, wire work, photography and computer imaging, fiber, pottery, felting and currently glass casting.Mixed Media/ Assemblage is a natural outgrowth of this desire to learn and share her knowledge with the students and is an energizing and rewarding experience.