Work of Heart
Guided by Art
Curated gallery exhibitions and corporate spaces should serve as active dialogues between artwork, architecture, and audience. Amanda’s curatorial approach emphasizes thoughtful spatial flow, thematic depth, and narrative precision. From intimate solo exhibitions and expansive group showcases to custom small- and large-scale commissioned collections across corporate and institutional settings, every project is engineered to showcase artists at their highest potential while delivering memorable, engaging cultural experiences to the public.
Waste2Wonder,
Detroit Month of Design
The Partnership & Panel
Teaming up with Ecosphere Organics, Waste to Wonder explored the intersection of fine art and circular ecosystems by upcycling clean, farm-to-table organic waste—including banana stem fibers, fruit peels, and chicken bones—into fine art pieces ranging from 12”x12” to 48”x72”. During the initiative, I speaker-partnered alongside Melanie McClintock (Chair of Color & Materials Design at College for Creative Studies) in a fireside chat sharing our experiences working within sustainable materials.
The Exhibition
The collection was featured during Detroit Month of Design inside Newlab, Detroit’s premier innovation hub adjacent to Michigan Central Station in Corktown. It was also featured on Channel 4 with Priya Mann.
Youth Empowerment & Education
As part of the initiative, I partnered with the Girl Scouts of Southeastern Michigan (Girl Empowerment Program) to bring girls from Flint into the studio for hands-on education in
eco-conscious artmaking. The girls took part in a collaborative artwork which was purchased by Royal Oak restaurant Alchemi. The owner invited the participants to the restaurant for the official installation, giving them a tour of the kitchen and demonstrating how their artwork directly connected back to local sustainability efforts.
Creative Compass Program
The Vision
I created Creative Compass as a dual-impact program created to foster self-expression, curiosity, and leadership in Girl Scouts while providing paid opportunities for working artists to mentor the next generation.
Hands-On Learning & Custom Badges
Through interactive workshops and partnerships, Scouts learn new artistic skills and explore how art can drive community engagement. Participants earn an exclusive Creative Compass badge—custom-designed for the program—along with additional patches.
Artist & Community Engagement
Grounded in a commitment to community development, Creative Compass builds sustainable bridges between professional artists and non-profit organizations, providing youth with access to high-quality creative experiences. The initiative has successfully facilitated the creation of two public murals in Eastern Market and a partnership with the Detroit Grand Prix, where scouts repurposed recycled race vinyl into sustainable collages, resulting in a collaborative piece purchased by Penske Oil Company for their corporate offices in the Detroit Renaissance Center. Additional partnerships include Sew Great Detroit, where inner-city scouts learned vocational sewing and sustainability principles using repurposed materials, urban gardening with Urban Seed, book making with sculpture artist Dione Tripp, hydro-dipped sculptures with Kelz and we just keep on going…!
About the Patch: I designed this patch to be awarded to each Girl Scout upon completing a Creative Compass event. The lightbulb symbolizes a spark of inspiration, enclosing a vibrant rainbow that represents endless creativity and a star to signify light. Surrounding the bulb, the yellow band is stylized as a compass, guiding scouts on their journey of self-expression.
To get involved: email amandakossart@gmail.com
Partnership with the
Girl Scouts of South Eastern Michigan
Detroit Grand Prix
Partnership with the
Detroit Grand Prix and
Penske Oil Company
The Sustainable Partnership & Process
Partnering with the Detroit Grand Prix, I received a full pallet of vinyl race banners used during the downtown Detroit races. I developed methods to upcycle the material as key structural and textural elements in a body of work created specifically for the Grand Prix. The final collection was showcased during the event inside the Grand Prix executive suites.
Youth Empowerment & Collaborative Art
Using leftover banner materials, I hosted sustainable art workshops with local Girl Scouts. Participants created individual artwork as well as a large 4’ collaborative collage created alongside me, teaching the scouts principles of environmental sustainability and creative reuse. Later, I went on to team with Sew Great Detroit who taught Girl Scouts how to sew using the vinyl material. Each girl learned how to sew a re-usable bag which will last over 100 years.
Corporate Acquisition & Legacy
The 4’ collaborative collage was purchased by Penske Oil Company / Detroit Grand Prix for permanent display in their corporate office located in the Detroit Renaissance Center.
Farzak of Brightmoor
Partnership with
Ethedra Mae Park in Brightmoor Neighborhood, Detroit
Community Partnership
Partnered with Ethedra Mae Park and Motor City Blight Busters and a collective of 12 local artists to design and construct a holiday "Nutcracker Garden" for Eldora Mae Park in Brightmoor, Detroit.
Sustainable Studio & Personal Dedication
The figures were built entirely from reclaimed and upcycled materials inside a warehouse workshop before being installed on site. I named my nutcracker design in honor of my friend Chris Waugaman (Farzak), who passed away in 2012.
Exhibition & Recognition
Holiday Season at Eldora Mae Park: Along side 11 other nutcrackers, Farzak was set up for local holiday events and community celebrations in Brightmoor including a drive-through light display.
Artist Village (Old Redford): Transitioned to a public exhibition at the Artist Village in Old Redford.
First Place Award: Took First Place in the final public vote honoring the favorite nutcracker design of the exhibition.
