MONIQUE STAUDER is a visual artist with a photojournalistic career that spans the globe. Her work has been featured in prominent publications such as TIME, Christian Science Monitor, The New York Times, and Mother Jones, among others.

In the early 1990s, Stauder left her rural Indiana roots to explore the beauty and challenges of humanity worldwide as an investigative reporter and freelance photojournalist. Her solo journey around the equator from 2000 to 2003 culminated in the award-winning book Latitude Zero, which was published in 2010 with forewords by acclaimed American novelist Paul Theroux.

The same year, motherhood marked a new chapter, providing the perfect pause from her diverse global experiences and allowing her to delve into her collection of images and curios. Her artistic focus evolved, and she expanded her visual art repertoire to include paintings, metal sculptures and 3D mixed media creations. These works echo a theme of renewal and transformation, reflecting a seamless connection between past, present, and future in the timeless NOW.

Currently residing in rural Missouri, Stauder is dedicated to living authentically and creating wholeheartedly. She reflects, "This can only be achieved through inner-outer harmony and a deep understanding that my insatiable need to create comes from an infinite divine source. I am merely a ray of light, unafraid to explore, experiment, and express in this realm where things are thoughts, and the transformation process back into things is my mental playground and daily desire. Every step is on sacred ground."

While pursuing her metamorphic art as a committed autodidact, Stauder holds a double Master’s Degree in International Relations and History from the Institut Universitaire de Hautes Etudes Internationales in Geneva, Switzerland (associated with the Fletcher School at Tufts University, Boston) and a Bachelor’s Degree in History from the University of Colorado.

Most recent interview in June 2023: 

https://shifter.media/creative-dispatches-monique-stauder/