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We visited Silent Fox’s studio to get a sneak peek at their new exhibition, My Flowers Died, So I Buried Them and Planted New Ones. Silent Fox explores themes of grief, trauma, and healing through bold colors, intimate details, and a universe all their own.
The opening reception kicks off this Saturday, November 1st, at Public Functionary and will run through December 6. BLNCD bevs will be there to sip while you wander the gallery.
Q: What inspired the name Silent Fox?
A: Silent Fox was inspired by my love for silence. I love listening and observing things and then bringing that back into my artwork — or just listening in general. If I have nothing to do, especially in conversations, I don’t want to be the person who overly talks. I like to get to know people and hear their stories. So yeah, it comes from my love for silence. And Fox — that’s my last name. I can’t change that one.
Q: How is living and creating in Minnesota?
A: Minnesota has a lot of art opportunities that I’ve loved. I kind of stumbled into it — going to college, meeting art friends, and then getting a job at the Mia as a gallery guard. That helped me connect with more artists and collaborate.
Q: How did you get started in art?
A: I’ve been drawing since I was three. I was obsessed with Hello Kitty, the Powerpuff Girls, Power Rangers — all of that. When I wasn’t allowed to watch TV, I’d draw a lot. In school, I’d draw constantly. After high school, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I thought I’d be a vet, but my mom looked at me and said, “You’re an artist. Maybe try tattoo design or something.” That encouragement motivated me to keep making art. I went to MCTC for two years, got my degree, then transferred to Augsburg. I took an illustration class there — just a drawing class — and that’s where I found design. The professors were amazing, and that’s when I decided I wanted to be a designer too.
Q: How do you see your creative process?
A: I realized that as I make art, I’m building my own universe. Each platform or medium I use is its own world within that universe. So every time I work on a project, I’m like, “This would be cool in acrylic,” or maybe watercolor or digital. I weigh out what I’m trying to say and choose the medium that helps me express it best. I usually start with sketches — color pencil is the baseline. If I want something softer, I’ll use watercolor; if I want it bold or more type-based, I go digital. Each medium has its role.
Q: What inspires your style?
A: Definitely anime. My first was Fullmetal Alchemist. It’s about two kids who lose their mom and try to bring her back to life, but in doing so they lose parts of themselves. It’s such a heavy topic, but even as a kid I understood it. There was something comforting in the way it handled grief — it made it feel more manageable. I want my art to do that too: to explore heavy emotions through relatable characters or bold colors, where even if it’s sad, there’s still joy in it.
Q: What’s your process like when you start a piece?
A: It always starts with a plan, and depending on the piece, it might unravel into something different. Planning helps me get started and avoid mistakes, but I also let things evolve naturally.
Q: How does design play into your work?
A: I use design to amplify voices. I plan my projects around topics that need to be heard but often aren’t. I can draw it visually, but I rely on research and community to help me find the right language for the design.
Q: Tell us about your upcoming exhibit.
A: It’s called My Flowers Died, So I Buried Them and Planted New Ones. It’s about grief, trauma, and healing. It comes from a time in my life when I wasn’t allowed to talk about my trauma, and I really wanted to overcome that. Art became an easy way to say the words without actually saying them. I also wanted to reflect on how trauma can be community-based, how one person’s pain can ripple out and affect others. I use the metaphor of flowers and community gardens to show how we’re all connected — how tending to ourselves helps nurture others too.
Q: What ideas or emotions are you exploring in this body of work?
A: It’s really about grief, pain, and trying to heal. When creating each piece, I asked myself, “What actually hurt? What do you need to say that you haven’t said in years?” It’s scary to share, but that’s why I use color and imagery — some people don’t catch the deeper topic, and that’s okay.
Q: How does this show build on or depart from what you’ve done before?
A: I think it builds on what I’ve done before. For a while, I felt like I had to make what others wanted to see. With this show, I focused on myself — what I wanted to make and what I needed to heal. It’s about leaving behind grief and expectations and just being the artist I want to be.
Q: What do you want people to feel when they see your work?
A: That one’s hard because I try to live without expectations, but I hope people feel like they have space to connect and process through my art. Art has always been a way to connect for me. Growing up, I loved drawing with other people — it created this bonding moment. I want that same experience for people who see my work.
Q: What’s inspiring you right now, inside or outside of art?
A: Studio Ghibli is my main inspiration — I love the magical, whimsical feel and the way it still deals with heavy topics. Outside of art, I’ve been trying to get out more, go to museums, and even started streaming. It’s been fun to make friends around the world that way.
Q: How do you stay curious?
A: I get bored if I don’t. There’s so much to learn — even just walking around, I notice small details like how people walk their dogs or how their energy matches their pets. Paying attention to the little things keeps me inspired. And when I’m not, I look at other artists and see what inspires them — then find my own way to add to the conversation.
Q: If you could describe your art in three words?
A: Humanity, cuteness, and comfort.
Follow Silent Fox @silentfox.studio