wonderkin—why now?
wonderkin started, oddly enough, with lasers, ink, and a lifelong crush on art.
Pivoting from a successful run in tech, I jumped into what I thought would be a fun detour about fifteen years ago—landing in a small art reproduction company with big ambitions. Artist recruiting, giclée printing, laser cutting, lucite framing—my job was like being handed the keys to the kingdom for a wannabe art maven, aspiring designer, and perpetual tinkerer. Creative, inventive, and just the right amount of obsessive.
Fast forward through a few twists (an investment backer who fired the leadership team, a tough start-up stint with no income, a long stretch back in corporate life), and I couldn’t shake the itch. During those years in the art industry, I’d fallen hard—for acrylic.
Why acrylic? Because it’s magic. Clear and modern, but also bold and playful. I loved the one–inch flame-polished frames, the layered shadow boxes with linen backers, the luminous neon mirror boxes. But at the time I founded Wonderkin, I was most inspired by a piece from my childhood: a vintage acrylic window box from the 1970s: three panels, layered inside a frame, creating a three-dimensional image that felt alive. Back then, it was negatives sandwiched between panes. Today? We can print right on the acrylic.
That was the spark. I wanted people like me—people without giant art budgets—to collect unique, meaningful objects for their homes. Art you don’t just hang, but live with.
After eight years of dormancy—because I was baffled by how to market my fledgling business, was competing in a saturated framed-art market, and was busy working full time in the corporate world—I’m finally reinvesting. This time feels different: shadow boxes and acrylic décor offer a fresh, unique value proposition. I’ve learned a lot, grown in countless ways, and I’m ready to move forward with renewed clarity and focus.
Admittedly, I’m chasing a dream—not only with my time, but with my funds. I’m investing in website optimization, social media campaigns, product development, brand photography, email marketing, and even packaging and fulfillment. Each decision feels like a step toward building not just products, but a business that lasts. And it’s exciting but also a little scary.
But here’s the truth: wonderkin isn’t just about acrylic. For me, it’s about that same magic I felt as a kid peering into that window box—the sense that art isn’t distant or untouchable, but something you can hold. That’s the feeling I want to share.
Because this isn’t just my story—it’s yours, too. wonderkin is about giving you access to art that feels alive, objects that light up a wall, a table, a whole room, that inspire conversation, memories, and joy every time you walk past. It’s proof that even the smallest idea can become something you hold in your hands: sleek acrylic—etched, printed, layered—transformed into a collectible that invites play, pride, and connection.
And this is only the beginning. From new shadow box collections to playful neon and unexpected design ideas, I’m pursuing a passion—and inviting you to come along.