Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Louise Cutler. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Louise, so excited to have you with us today. So much we can chat about, but one of the questions we are most interested in is how you have managed to keep your creativity alive.
I keep my creativity alive by giving back to my community and by allowing myself the freedom to be fully alive. Creativity, for me, is something that lives inside of us. When we pour it out, we make room to be refilled. So when you see one of my paintings or sculptures, or when you come to one of my workshops, that’s overflow. That’s what’s pouring out from the abundance that God has placed inside of me.
My job isn’t to hold on to it — it’s to give it away. To share the gifts and talents I’ve been blessed with. I stay creative by sharing creativity, by letting others experience the feeling behind what I create or what I teach. Because when you give it, it grows.
Creativity never dies. It might get quiet, it might get a little stagnant if we don’t use it, but it’s always there. We just have to open up and let it flow out. And when we do, you keep creating.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I am an artist, curator, and community builder, and everything I do is rooted in using art to bring people together. My work spans painting, sculpture, mixed media, writing, and creating spaces for others to express themselves. I believe art is more than something you look at — it’s something you experience, something that speaks to the spirit.
I grew up in a big family, often finding peace and escape in my imagination. That early need to create became the foundation for who I am today. Art became my voice, my safe place, and eventually my way of helping others find healing, connection, and belonging.
What excites me most is the impact art can have on a community. Through the Beauty of Blackness Fine Art Show, the Black Art & Culture Interview Series, workshops, and the exhibitions I curate, I get to create opportunities for Black/ African American artists, and other astisit of color to be seen, heard, and celebrated — especially in places where our presence is small but powerful. I love watching people walk into a space and feel represented, inspired, or simply understood.
My artistic work focuses on peace, connection, and the quiet power that lives inside all of us. I often leave faces out of my figures because I want viewers to see themselves in the work. I want them to find that moment of rest, that breath, that feeling of “I belong here.”
What I have new and coming up
In 2026, I have an exciting lineup of projects that continue to celebrate creativity, culture, and community. For Black History Month, My Louise Cutler Studio CAP, in partnership with community organizations such as Foothills Mall, Fort Collins Museum Of Arts, CSU School Of Engineering, Fort Collins Symphony, The Cultural Engagement Center of Fort Collins, and other cultural organizations. We will be hosting a series of events through out Fort Collins, including:
A Table Reading of the Play “Take a Giant Step” (Feb 6) this will be held at the Fort Collins Museum Of Arts and is open to the community
A World of Difference: Powered by People, Science, and Engineering (Feb 7) happening at the Foot Hills Mall Fort Collins
We be featuring a few workshops at the Fort Collins Foot Hills Mall
Workshop: Cultivating the Harmony Within Us (Feb 14)
Workshop: Turn Yourself Anime! (Feb 21)
Workshop: Freedom of Expression – Music, Lyrics, and Poetry (Feb 28)
An at the Opera Galleria we will present: An Evening with the Minstrels — Redefined (Feb 27)
All this info can be found on our website at louisecutlerstudioCAP.com
These programs are designed to engage the community, encourage self-expression, and highlight the voices of Black American artists and performers in ways that educate, inspire, and empower.
Beyond Black History Month, I’m also preparing for the Beauty of Blackness Fine Art Show, in collaboration with community sponsors, which continues to grow and provide a platform for Black/African American artists and other artist of color to share and sale their work .
Additionally, I’m honored to be curating an upcoming exhibition at the Gregory Allicar Museum of Art, a significant opportunity to bring new perspectives and underrepresented voices into a museum space, showcasing the depth and diversity of contemporary Black American art.
All of these initiatives reflect my core mission: using art to heal, uplift, and unite communities while giving space for creativity to thrive and be celebrated.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
One of the biggest things that shaped my journey was learning not to get lost in other people’s bubble, but to find my own. It’s so easy to let other people’s expectations and ideas pull you away from who you truly are. The moment I stopped trying to fit into places that weren’t meant for me, I found my real voice and my real direction.
The second quality was learning to be myself no matter where I am or who I’m with. Authenticity is freedom. When you show up as yourself, you move without fear. You create without apology. You walk in rooms knowing you belong because you bring your full self with you.
And the third thing that has carried me is love — loving God, loving the people around me, and loving myself. A pastor once said there are two things you will never run out of: love, and people to love. That truth has stayed with me and continues to shape the way I live and give.
Something else I’ve learned along the way is to enjoy your journey, even if you have to travel part of it alone. Life doesn’t shape your joy — your joy shapes your life. The Bible tells us to “count it all joy.” Joy is not about what’s happening around you; joy comes from the inside. When you hold onto that inner joy, it becomes your strength, your compass, and your peace.
My advice:
Stand firm in who you are. Be authentically you. Don’t let anyone pull you away from your purpose. Love freely. And carry your joy with you — because that joy will shape the life you’re meant to live.
Is there a particular challenge you are currently facing?
One of my biggest challenges right now is consistent access to funding and resources to support the work I’m doing within my community to elevate not only Black American artists and people of color—through my Cultural Arts Projects, workshops, and the Beauty of Blackness Fine Art Show, but also the voices of all those who feel under represented. Creating spaces, opportunities, and platforms takes time, people, and financial support, and navigating those systems is an ongoing challenge.
But I’ve learned not to let obstacles stop me. I’m meeting this challenge by building strong community partnerships, applying for grants, collaborating with organizations, and continuing to educate people about why this work matters. I stay focused, stay prayerful, and stay true to the mission God placed on my heart.
As I continue to grow these programs and expand opportunities, I’m always looking to connect with people who believe in this work—people who want to invest their time, resources, or expertise in supporting Black American artists and people of color. Strengthening those relationships is something I’m actively working toward, because community is what makes this mission possible. If this is something that resonate with you we invite you to join us. Your support is greatly appreciated.
Contact Info:
- Website: LouisecutlerstudioCAP.com
- Instagram: LouiseCutler Studio
- Facebook: Louise Cutler Studio
- Linkedin: Louise Cutler
- Youtube: Louise Cutler Studio
- SoundCloud: Louise Cutler Music
- Other: louisecutlerstudio.com, TBOBFAS.com
Image Credits
Louse Cutler Studio Comunity Art Programs
