Motorcycle Artist: Colorado artist's Biography

The History

Corner bars, tattoo parlors, motorcycle exhaust, and the greased up bolt of her M4 provide the elements that tend to drive the passionate work behind Kayla Koeune’s artistic creations.

Koeune grew up in small-town Wisconsin where she found a love for art at a very young age. And like most of Wisconsin youth, she spent much of hers in taverns; only she was busy drawing the bar flies from a fort she’d construct out of stools.

Her passion to create never ceasing, Koeune decided to expand her knowledge and attended the Milwaukee Peck School of the Arts where she earned her BA in Fine Arts with a minor in Art History. She gravitated toward the challenge of the nude human form and capturing the raw emotion of everyday life.

Following college, she did what a lot of kids with degrees in Art did…joined the Wisconsin Army National Guard.  Almost immediately after training, she deployed to Baghdad, Iraq, where she developed new connections and friendships that soon would alter her path completely. She was introduced to the loud, dirty and entertaining world of motorcycles and their riders.  Proud of being a part of history, of defending her flag, and of her military career, SSG Koeune found solace as well as therapy after her return home behind the handlebars of her motorbike.

Her artwork grew, defined itself, became more individualized and then, more motorcycle driven, weaving together her own grittiness, brotherhood and pride.

“Ill chase this dream down whatever road is put before me and ride it to the insanity of every lived breath.”

Koeune founded Inferno Art Studio L.L.C. in 2012 where she works predominantly as a commission artist to exemplify her use of diverse subject matters and mediums. From oil and watercolors, to graphic art and design, textiles, enamels and mural work. Her artwork has made a footprint into the motorcycle industry, with engagements all over the United States; showing work as well as performing live paintings at different motorcycle events. 

Kayla is not one to be limited by a strict definition of canvas, and she finds an addictive passion in exploring new elements and discovering new attitudes in her own work. Defend, Ride and Paint. Koeune’s art speaks for itself.