There is a particular quality of light in Iowa that painters spend their whole lives chasing. The way it falls across a field in late afternoon. The way the horizon seems wider than anywhere else on earth. The way the land doesn't just sit there — it breathes. Nolan Benzing grew up in that light, and it shows in every brushstroke.
This mug is for the Iowans — the ones who stayed and the ones who left and carry it with them always. For anyone who has ever stood in a Midwest field and felt something they couldn't quite name but knew was home. Straight from the Heartland. Straight to your morning. ☕🌾
These mugs are built to last — premium white gloss finish, vibrant art print that won't fade, and a handle that stays cool even when your water is boiling. Microwave and dishwasher safe. Available in 11 oz, 15 oz, and 20 oz.
Cover Art by Nolan Benzing & the Kate Shu Collective
Nolan Benzing is an Iowa-raised conservation specialist, wildlife ecologist, and visual artist whose life has been shaped by a deep, abiding reverence for the natural world — and an unwavering commitment to protecting it. The middle child of a large family that included triplet brothers, Nolan learned early what it means to lead with integrity, show up with accountability, and stand firm in what matters.
After earning his degree in Animal and Wildlife Ecology from Iowa State University, Nolan spent years working with landowners, farmers, and ranchers across Iowa and South Dakota to design and implement conservation programs that balanced operational success with meaningful environmental stewardship. For nearly a decade, he has continued that work as a landscape designer, conservation community specialist, and land development field operations manager — a subject matter expert in native prairie restoration, wildlife ecology, and natural ecosystems.
But perhaps Nolan's most profound gift lives in his art. Through painting, drawing, and graphic design, he renders the landscapes, wildlife, and creatures he has spent a lifetime protecting — bringing the prairie, the woodland, and the wild into spaces where people can carry a piece of it with them every day.
"Goodness is something hard to measure but easy to feel. From the minute I met Nolan, I knew he was a gem." — Kate Shu
About this Mug:
• Available in 11 oz, 15 oz, and 20 oz
• Premium white gloss finish
• Printed using dye sublimation technology — the image is fused directly into the ceramic surface for vivid, true-to-life color that won't fade, crack, or peel. Ever.
• Handle stays cool even when your water is boiling
• Microwave and dishwasher safe
• Print quality is exceptional — exactly as pictured
There is a particular quality of light in Iowa that painters spend their whole lives chasing. The way it falls across a field in late afternoon. The way the horizon seems wider than anywhere else on earth. The way the land doesn't just sit there — it breathes. Nolan Benzing grew up in that light, and it shows in every brushstroke.
This mug is for the Iowans — the ones who stayed and the ones who left and carry it with them always. For anyone who has ever stood in a Midwest field and felt something they couldn't quite name but knew was home. Straight from the Heartland. Straight to your morning. ☕🌾
These mugs are built to last — premium white gloss finish, vibrant art print that won't fade, and a handle that stays cool even when your water is boiling. Microwave and dishwasher safe. Available in 11 oz, 15 oz, and 20 oz.
Cover Art by Nolan Benzing & the Kate Shu Collective
Nolan Benzing is an Iowa-raised conservation specialist, wildlife ecologist, and visual artist whose life has been shaped by a deep, abiding reverence for the natural world — and an unwavering commitment to protecting it. The middle child of a large family that included triplet brothers, Nolan learned early what it means to lead with integrity, show up with accountability, and stand firm in what matters.
After earning his degree in Animal and Wildlife Ecology from Iowa State University, Nolan spent years working with landowners, farmers, and ranchers across Iowa and South Dakota to design and implement conservation programs that balanced operational success with meaningful environmental stewardship. For nearly a decade, he has continued that work as a landscape designer, conservation community specialist, and land development field operations manager — a subject matter expert in native prairie restoration, wildlife ecology, and natural ecosystems.
But perhaps Nolan's most profound gift lives in his art. Through painting, drawing, and graphic design, he renders the landscapes, wildlife, and creatures he has spent a lifetime protecting — bringing the prairie, the woodland, and the wild into spaces where people can carry a piece of it with them every day.
"Goodness is something hard to measure but easy to feel. From the minute I met Nolan, I knew he was a gem." — Kate Shu
About this Mug:
• Available in 11 oz, 15 oz, and 20 oz
• Premium white gloss finish
• Printed using dye sublimation technology — the image is fused directly into the ceramic surface for vivid, true-to-life color that won't fade, crack, or peel. Ever.
• Handle stays cool even when your water is boiling
• Microwave and dishwasher safe
• Print quality is exceptional — exactly as pictured
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