byTory Kolkhorst

photo by Arianna Skoog

 Mommy’s job is painting, and daddy’s job is working,” says four-year-old Daisy,      daughter of Kaitlyn Plenger and big sister to Harper. 

What started as a lifelong passion for creating led to a casual art project: painting her first mural in her daughter’s playroom while pregnant with her second. This project ultimately jump-started the creation of Kaitlyn’s business. The positive feedback she received on her debut mural in her daughter’s playroom from friends and family sparked the origins of her small business, “Mural Mamas.” Drawing inspiration from her deep-rooted passion for art and her role as a mother, Kaitlyn’s murals reflect this beautiful blend that makes her business unique. 

From her earliest days as a child bringing home pictures, paintings, and art projects from school to drawn-out evenings turned to nights painting alongside friends in college, to eventually starting her own business – Kaitlyn has dedicated her life to her craft since she can remember. “It’s in my bones. I’ve never had a passion like this for anything else,” she shared. Since Kaitlyn first became a mom in 2019, she will attest that motherhood brought an entirely new dimension  her life’s work that serves as the lifeblood of her business. 

Through Mural Mamas, she strives to honor the journey of motherhood with a keen focus on her role as mom to Daisy and Harper by coordinating her commissioned pieces with windows of evening childcare so she can be home with her littles during the day. Being a mother and having a fulfilling career are not mutually exclusive; they complement each other beautifully, as we can all witness through the impassioned works of art that Kaitlyn has created. 

When asked about the role art plays in the sense of community, Kaitlyn was quick to illustrate how art can serve as a catalyst for dialogue. After spending a great deal of time at home during the COVID-19 pandemic and now investing her days in quality time at home with her daughters, Kaitlyn found that art could be a great way to spark conversation. Beyond a piece of art’s visual impact, it can do so much more than merely capture the attention of its audience. Art can evoke a range of thoughts and emotions from spectators, which provides a natural focal point for discussion. Here in Billings, murals and other forms of public art can showcase the spirit of our community in a beautiful way that we can point out to visitors from near and far. 

Beyond the significance of art featured in public spaces and community settings is the deeply personal form of expression it can provide inside one’s own home. Within the walls of Kaitlyn’s home, she continues to transform different nooks, spaces, and rooms with various paintings ranging in size and style that serve as intimate reflections of her identity and what inspires her as an artist. Being surrounded by her own creations (in art form and her children!) within her home environment is important, as they constantly remind her of what impassions and motivate her to keep creating. Her pieces, whether works-in-progress or finished masterpieces, contribute in big and small ways to make her house feel like a home for her family. 

By building a small business from her passion and personal gift, Kaitlyn has created a powerful example of determination and entrepreneurship for her daughters, Daisy and Harper. These little girls will have the opportunity to witness their mom pursue her passion and achieve business success, as they have front-row seats to the magic behind dreams becoming reality. SLM

Originally printed in the September 2024 issue of Simply Local Magazine

Check this article out in the digital issue of Simply Local here!

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