Linda Ganstrom grew up deep in the Kansas Heartland, where her childhood was spent digging in clay, gardening, and learning about welding from her grandfather. All of these learned skills laid the groundwork for her life in sculpture. Linda earned a BA in Art Education, an MA in Ceramics, and an MFA in Ceramics all at Fort Hays State University. Today as a professor at Fort Hays State, she continues to shape not only clay, but the future minds of future artists. 

Central to Linda's practice lies the human figure, in particular women's bodies and identities. Most often, Linda's porcelain and mixed-media sculptures focus on female forms and portray them with a mixture of both strength and vulnerability, as well as resilience. By merging the traditional medium of clay, with a story-telling narrative, Linda is able to reclaim the female figure as a vessel to express women's histories, voices, and power. 

Likewise, Linda's work resists the objectification which is repeatedly pushed on to women's bodies in art and culture. Her figures either confront this issue, or as in her Belle Mary Queen of Scots piece featured below, she honors exceptional women, turning the pieces into a celebration of individuality and agency. With these creations, Linda creates space for women's stories to be told in their own terms, not from traditional patriarchal narratives. The goal: to repair historical silences against women. 

As both an artist and educator, Linda embodies the feminist ethos of empowerment and mentorship. Not only does she focus on women's narratives in her art in order to highlight the importance of women's stories, but she also cultivates the next generation of makers who will continue the conversation. 

View more of Linda's work here and don't forget to stay inspired. HC