Bio:

Sirimas Benz Amatayakul (b. Bangkok, Thailand) is a Chicago-based multidisciplinary artist and mindfulness practitioner.

Benz is currently pursuing a Master’s in Clinical Mental Health Counseling at Concordia University Chicago.

Benz received a Master’s Degree in Integrated Communications from the Medill School of Journalism, Northwestern University and a Certification in Expressive Art Facilitation from Open Studio Project (Evanston, IL). She is a certified Mental Health First Aider and is in the process of becoming a Certified Peer Support Specialist with the Illinois Department of Public Health (IDPH).

Between 2018-2023, Benz founded and facilitated The Dear Artists Project, a platform with a mission to create more dialogues around mental health in the art community. Dear Artists pioneered a virtual artist residency called Dear Artists With Anxiety (DAWA) residency, a week-long virtual residency that ran throughout the year to showcase artists’ work while at the same time highlight and document their mental health journeys.

Benz’s latest project is Safe Space Art Studio, a process art and mindfulness studio that invites children and adults to create art and practice mindfulness.

Benz’s work has been shown at The United Club, O’Hare International Airport (Chicago, IL), The Evanston Art Center (Evanston, IL), The Hyde Park Art Center (Chicago, IL), Roots and Culture (Chicago), Oak Park Art League (Oak Park, IL), and Chicago Artists Coalition (Chicago, IL).

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 Artist Statement:

If I were to distill all of the reasons why I make art into one word, it would be HOPE.

My art is informed by my own experience of healing from anxiety (an ongoing journey) as well as the recovery experiences of my fellow artists and friends.

As a process, art heals me. As a product, I envision my art to be a messenger of healing and restoration for my audience.