Anna Rose Menako (b. March 18, 1999, Chicago, IL) is an independent artist based in Milwaukee, WI. With a diverse practice spanning both public and fine art, Anna’s work is driven by her belief in art as a powerful tool to document truths of the human experience. With an emotionally driven and intuitive approach, she crafts work that demonstrates technical skill, profound storytelling, and vulnerability.

Anna has been largely self-directed in her practice since childhood as a young homeschool student, it was then when she chose to immerse herself fully into art. As an early career artist, Anna remained largely self directed, honing her skills not through institutional channels but instead by immersing herself in community arts spaces, mentorships, and the labor of large scale mural and installation production. Her early recognition came as a Scholastic Art and Writing National Medalist, selected by a panel that included Mickalene Thomas. Since then, Anna has successfully led and contributed to impactful mural projects and fine art exhibitions throughout Milwaukee and the Midwest. Her skillful use of color theory and thoughtful representations of the human form resonate deeply with audiences. An adaptable and skilled creative, Anna is proficient in fine motor tasks beyond traditional art forms, including sewing, flute playing, jewelry making, woodworking, and culinary arts. 

Menako’s current upcoming series is driven by the desire to reclaim emotional expression often demonized by society when embodied by Black Women—such as righteous rage, ambition and pride. It’s heavily inspired by the evil queens or the villains of countless stories, movies, and folktales and honors them for their allure and complex, enigmatic nature. Anna’s dedication to celebrating Black American culture and creating authentic, inspiring cultural relics that preserve our narratives is a cornerstone of her practice. She strives to create work that is honest and realistic enough to connect people through a shared sense of humanity, but laced with enough whimsy and otherworldliness to feel a bit distant and dreamy.

Committed to lifelong growth, Anna actively seeks opportunities for domestic and international travel. Her current goal is to do her first artist residency outside of the Midwest and she has her sights set on Senegal, NYC, the East Coast, and more. She is working toward fluency in Spanish and Portuguese to expand her global reach. Guided by her belief in art as a universal language, she is driven to create works that transcend time and provide inspiration for future generations.