- Life Dates Born 1976, Rapid City, South Dakota
- Occupation Homemaker
- Residence at Time of Award Rapid City, South Dakota
Tonya Mandy
Gold Medal In: Rosemaling, 2024
Ribbons
- 2019 White ribbon for a Old Telemark Oval Bentwood Box
- 2022 Blue ribbon for a Telemark-style Bowl
- 2022 Red ribbon for a Telemark-style Trunk
- 2024 Blue ribbon for a Hallingdal-style Box
- 2024 Red ribbon for a “Salvation Army” Hallingdal-style Bowl
- 2024 White ribbon for a Telemark-style Tine
- 2024 Blue ribbon for Dylan Telemark-style Bowl
Artist Statement
I grew up in Rapid City, South Dakota and attended the South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, where I earned by bachelor’s degree in Chemical Engineering in 1999. We moved to the Twin Cities where I also received my master’s degree in Intercultural Leadership. After returning to Rapid City, I began rosemaling in 2014, and began painting under Judith Kjenstad in 2018, which has been one of my greatest privileges. It goes without saying that her painting in the old ways is my biggest influence. Knut Luraas and Ola Bjella are my rosemaling crushes.
I believe that everyone has a need to create. For me, rosemaling is researching, learning, designing, creating, and preserving – it really hits all the marks. I also love architectural salvage. Using things in building and design that have a story, and then giving them a second life is fulfilling and more interesting than buying something new. Painting from old pieces is similar for me. Giving a piece of folk art a second story in a new piece is satisfying in that same way.
My husband, Ed, and I have five children. In addition to rosemaling, I love traveling anywhere new, taking family road trips, riding roller coasters with my kids, cooking, skiing, and most recently, house building.