Biography
BIOGRAPHY
Myra's parents chose her in 1962 before her first birthday to join their family of three biological white boys, one black girl, and a few years later, another black boy. Myra's family's decision to live off the land meant they milked goats, raised chickens, and froze and canned fruits and vegetables. She played with her father's landscaping and carpentry tools as a child. Her family built the interior of their home. Myra's adoptive family had the perfect home to nurture her artistic passion organically.
Myra Kooy has been making art, transforming everyday events into elaborate stories and environmental installations. She called forts. Her art spills into every area of her life. Her clothing and accessories and every corner of her home are artistic stories. As a result, she embraced the terms "Livable, and Wearable Art." Her "Wearable and Livable" works of art have traveled across the States to all the major cities, including LA, San Diego, San Francisco, New Orleans, Chicago, Maryland, New Jersey, New York City, Boston, Pennsylvania, Detroit, Georgia, and the Smithsonian in Washington D.C.
Living in New Jersey, Myra began building her multidisciplinary fine art practice. She developed as an artist with the support she needed to lay her fine craft art down. Myra used the wood that embellished her craft-work to make large mobiles and assemblages satisfying a long-held desire. She had exhibitions in Center City Gallery, River Winds Gallery, and the Brooklyn Waterfront Coalition. Myra got married and moved back to Brooklyn. Once she was back in Brooklyn, she made relationships with local businesses to curate multiple shows at a time. As a Park Slope Trustee, she hosted a silent auction to support grants for high school students. Myra has made murals for local businesses and individual residents. Myra has also shown work with Trestle Gallery, Alfred Van Loen Gallery, Ground Floor Gallery, Belskie Museum, St. John's College Gallery, Five Myles Gallery, and her work is in the book, Brooklyn on My Mind, from the WPA to Today, by Dr. Myrah Brown Green.
Myra finished her Master of Fine Arts degree this Fall at City College in Harlem, New York.