Arika Kaosa

Arika Kaosa grew up in a household surrounded by art and music.  Her mother's past as a staple in the 1960's American music scene fueled her creativity and drive for greatness.   After the death of one of her best friends ten days after his 18th birthday in 2005, Arika made a promise to herself and her late friend.  Her promise was to work relentlessly in every avenue where she believed she could succeed.  

Arika Kaosa started creating designs in her apartment across from Grant Park when she was a student at Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, Illinois.  By the summer of 2012, her work received recognition by upscale retailer, Nordstrom, which made her art piece "Natural" go viral.  "Natural" went on to be included in Tumblr's 2013 Year In Review as one of the website's best art pieces of the year.  Arika has gone on to show in regional, national, and international art shows and festivals like 2014's Art Basel in Basel, Switzerland and Miami Beach, Florida.

Her journalism career has lead to writing jobs with Yahoo News, Examiner (now AXS), and Punk Globe Magazine and interviews with some of music's biggest and legendary stars.  At the age of 25, Arika became the Editor-In-Chief for the nonprofit Chicago Academy of Music magazine.  Her music career gained her access to national and international performances as a solo artist and session musician. 

She is the founder of the nonprofit organization Fuerza and is an active storm chaser and weather researcher. 

Her education includes time at Columbia College Chicago in Chicago, Illinois for journalism and marketing and the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University in Santa Clara, California.

Arika Kaosa can be reached via the 'contact' link