What began as a creative hobby for UW–Madison student Lily Kolakowski has evolved into a flourishing art business with national reach. A sophomore studying consumer behavior and marketplace studies with certificates in entrepreneurship, studio art, and graphic design, Lily has turned her long-time passion for art into a growing business that has reached audiences nationwide. “Going into college, I knew that I wanted to leverage my art skills to give me a little bit of an income,” Lily shared. With an eye for collegiate-themed designs and a determination to carve her path, she’s built something uniquely hers.
Lily’s entrepreneurial journey took off in high school where she and a friend began painting together in class and posting their work on Instagram. “People started reaching out and they were like, ‘We like these. How can I order one?’” she recalled. This early interest snowballed into a business with requests pouring in from not just local friends but even international admirers. That early momentum followed her into college where she launched a Redbubble shop. A viral TikTok video showcasing one of her designs gave her work exposure. “It blew up and got hundreds of likes…and that gave my shop a lot of attention,” she said.
As her business evolved, Lily sought ways to streamline and professionalize her operations. She recently launched a dedicated website to manage orders directly, moving beyond platforms like Redbubble. She operates under two names: “LilandRen Art,” a collaborative shop with her friend, and “LGKart,” her personal art handle. Her artistic inspiration is deeply tied to her surroundings at UW–Madison. “Being surrounded by people who share the same passion as me pushes me to be the best I can be,” Lily said, referencing her intermediate painting class from freshman year.
The university has played a pivotal role in shaping her entrepreneurial mindset. Lily is pursuing certificate in entrepreneurship and has attended events sponsored by the Weinert Center for Entrepreneurship, where she’s drawn inspiration from fellow student business owners. “Seeing what they do for their business has given me some great ideas for how to take mine to the next level,” she said.
Despite her success, Lily’s path hasn’t been without challenges. “The biggest challenge personally has just been the concept of art as a feasible career,” she admitted. Pushing back against the notion that art isn’t a “secure” profession, she has leaned into her passion and bet on herself. Her advice for other aspiring student entrepreneurs? “Just start — you are not going to have the utmost success right off the bat. It’s really important to just start where you are.”
With her creativity and commitment, Lily is proving that art and business are far from mutually exclusive — they are a powerful match.
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