“Introvert” Mixed Media digital print with watercolor and ink, 2022, 20x16”
Tarja J. Harney is an Indiana native from Kokomo. Along with her art making and crafting, Tarja is currently an adjunct professor in the New Media, Art, and Technology Department at Indiana University Kokomo and in the Foundations Department at Herron School of Art and Design at IUPUI.
Tarja J. Harney is a mixed media artist who specializes in exploring the intricacies of identity and personal memories through the adept use of symbolism and allegory. Within her artistic practice, Tarja employs a diverse range of techniques, including printmaking, color pencils, watercolor pencils, and ink, with collaging and, more recently, photography. By skillfully employing mixed media collaging, Tarja informs her work with a remarkable three-dimensional quality, resulting in both aesthetic impact and profound insight into her creative process. This layering effect infuses her art with an exploration of memories and introspective reflections. Tarja regards her creative process as a meditative construction, assembling a narrative from past and present memories. Through her art, Tarja aspires to establish meaningful connections, heighten awareness of her surroundings, and delve deeply into the exploration of her own personal identity.