Meet Katie Moran | Executive Director & Artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katie Moran and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katie, what’s the most important thing you’ve done for your children?
I think the most impactful thing I’ve done as a parent is choosing not to completely change my life because I became a parent, but instead bringing my children into the life I’ve built. I’ve made a conscious effort to incorporate them into all aspects of my world, my work, my creative passions, my community, and in doing so, we’ve grown a supportive village of families around us.
My kids know what I do, they understand my love for art and travel, and they’re always up for an adventure or a creative project. I was fortunate to be in a family friendly work environment and was able to bring my first child to work with me every day after maternity leave. She grew up surrounded by a team who loved her, taught her baby sign language, helped her explore sensory play, and even joined me in classrooms and programs. It’s been incredibly meaningful to raise my children in a way that blends life, work, creativity, and community.
One of the most meaningful experiences I have shared with my daughters was traveling together on Semester at Sea. Having the opportunity to explore the world as a family, visiting new countries, meeting people from different cultures, and navigating unfamiliar places. Watching my daughters engage with the world around them, ask questions, try new foods, and see the beauty of different cultures first hand. I hope that by including them in my passions, they find their own and that they see how life can be full, creative, and adventurous at any stage.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I’m currently in my 12th year as the Executive Director of The Art Garage, a nonprofit organization committed to making visual arts accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. Our mission is to offer visual arts-based programs that inspire, empower, and promote creative self-expression. We offer classes for everyone, from toddlers to adults, and we partner with schools, libraries, senior centers, and residential treatment and day habilitation centers to encourage exploration, experimentation, and the discovery of each person’s unique visual language.
My college study abroad experience on Semester at Sea was life-changing and helped steer me toward nonprofit work and my service with the U.S. Peace Corps. In 2024, I returned to Semester at Sea in a temporary staff position supporting field class logistics—a full-circle moment that reinvigorated my commitment to experiential education.
As a Peace Corps Volunteer in Grenada, I served in the area of Special Education, where I collaborated with schools, the Ministry of Education, and nonprofits to support inclusion, disability awareness, and girl empowerment. I wrote grants, painted murals, facilitated training sessions, and helped develop educational programming—all in partnership with community leaders and fellow volunteers.
These experiences gave me a foundation in grassroots program development, cross-cultural communication, and community-led impact.
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that leadership doesn’t require having all the answers—it requires a willingness to keep learning. I’ve learned that it’s okay to evolve, to make adjustments, and to work with others for collaboration and support.
While much of my professional life has been focused on supporting others in their creative journeys, I’m now leaning more into my own art-making practice. My current work explores themes of birth, motherhood, and travel, and I’m excited to begin sharing it more publicly. I’m most proud of the way art continues to be a source of processing and reflection in both my life and my work.
What sets The Art Garage apart, and what reflects my personal mission, is our belief that everyone is an artist. Art is not about perfection or skill; it’s about expression, connection, and healing. For many, art becomes a language when words are too hard to form. Whether we’re working with toddlers or seniors, neurodiverse learners or professional artists, our programs are rooted in the idea that creativity is for everyone.
I want people to know that the work we do is not just about teaching art—it’s about building confidence, fostering resilience, and creating space for voices to be seen and heard.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
If my best friend were visiting for a week, I would start close to my home in Nederland, Colorado. We’d kick off the trip with donuts from the train cars. Then we’d ride the Carousel of Happiness and spend the morning browsing Nederland’s shops with a Sweet Sue’s smoothie in hand. In the afternoon, we’d head out for a paddle or hike at Brainard Lake to get some pizza dinner at Toss.
Then a road trip to Leadville, with a stop at Melanzana for some locally made clothes. Then off to Twin Lakes to set up camp by the water. We’d paddleboard, cook dinner over the campfire and watch the sunset.
We’d finish the trip with a stop in Buena Vista to explore the downtown shops and eateries and a soak at Cottonwood Hot Springs.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
There are so many people who deserve recognition for the role they’ve played in my journey. I will begin with my parents who encouraged and trusted me to travel the world, a gift that has deeply shaped who I am. They both recognized and nurtured my love for art helping me pursue it. My dad never gave up on me during the times I struggled in school. His patience and belief in me gave me the foundation to work through it.
I’ve also been incredibly fortunate to meet people across the globe through travel, study, and service who have influenced me in ways they may never fully realize. My art teachers and professors, too, deserve a special shoutout. And the host families I lived with while studying and traveling abroad welcomed me into their homes and lives, shaping my worldview with their generosity, resilience, and stories.
Each of these people, whether lifelong supporters or brief encounters, has helped me become who I am today, and I carry their influence with deep gratitude

Website: https://artgaragedenver.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/artgaragedenver/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katie-moran-414b6422/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ArtGarageDenver

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTHvi7YdnGWVCeKBeVUFEnA

Image Credits
Sara Elise Photography
Eric Forbes
Meg Koning