Hidden Architects

"I did everything right before going into architecture school: I had a mentorship with a local architect. I took drafting. I got a bunch of fancy books. Yet when I built models, they fell apart. When I took tests on the major architectural wonders of the world, I failed miserably. I mispronounced French, Greek, and Italian towns and couldn't get my centuries straight. I had no skills, no worldly context, or the ability to catch up in the typical college semester time frame. I was screwed." —HJ

The Work: A series of abstract collages exploring regret, gender, wonder, and cultural critique—reconciling with an abandoned dream of becoming an architect.

The Story: I left architecture school knowing I didn't want to design "nice garages and church additions"—I longed for greatness. The cultural gap between my small town of Sartell, Minnesota (strip mall and paper mill) and the lofty ideals of architecture felt insurmountable. My female dean pleaded with me to reconsider, but I knew the path wasn't mine.

The Reflection: Looking through the magazines my mother (Home Beautiful) and grandfather (Scientific American) read, I realize succeeding in architecture would have required a much stronger desire—and perhaps a different environment to foster it. The lack of female architects, mentors, and imaginative tools in my upbringing shaped what felt possible.

The Resolution: Though I left architecture behind, I continue to engage with space and design through art. These collages let me dance within the space like I built it, admire the queen bees that made it, and keep making something out of nothing every day.

Current Connection: I now teach art in STEM-based programs, committed to empowering young girls to enter fields that remain difficult to navigate. I want to look girls in the eyes and encourage them to push themselves into spaces that are still not truly open to them.

Medium: Abstract collages

Themes: Dreams abandoned, pathways reimagined, failure as part of the journey