The seeds of her dream life in Duluth were planted early and watered often for Ingrid Ilg.
“As a child, I came to Duluth frequently with my parents,” she said. “We loved visiting Lutsen Resort. Since then, I’ve always wanted to live and work in Duluth.”
The series of life’s twists and turns that transpired – allowing these dreams to unfold – are pretty incredible. There remains little doubt that Ilg was destined for Duluth.
Life in the Cities
Ilg grew up in Woodbury, Minnesota, with “artist parents.” Her father, John, is a prolific painter, photographer, graphic designer, and sculptor. To this day, he maintains a studio in St. Paul. And her mother, Mary, is a writer and office manager. Ilg has one younger sister, Isabel.
Ilg inherited this artistic gene, and is a talented painter in her own right. Interestingly, she uses Lake Superior rocks as her canvas. (See her full artistic profile here: Ingrid K. Ilg Shares Her Rocky Artistry and Whimsy – Destination Duluth).
“I’ve always had art in my life,” she said. “My parents’ house is like a museum. My dad’s art is everywhere. And, my parents have kept and cherished my artwork from childhood.”
While attending high school, her first job was as a preschool aide. But when it came time to select a career path, Ilg selected psychology.
“I was always told I was a good listener,” she said. She also considers herself a deeply empathetic person. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of St. Thomas in 2017.
Psychology
Ilg worked in the field of Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) therapy for about 9 months. But ultimately, she realized this wasn’t where she wanted to be. So, she returned to teaching and worked as a toddler teacher from 2017 to 2021.
Her college education still came in handy, however. Being trained in psychology definitely helped her out in the classroom. And, it was a feather in her cap to be “mental health practitioner certified.”
Fate intervenes
In October 2021, Ilg’s long-term romantic relationship ended, and she moved back to her parents’ home. Literally that same day, she received an “out of the blue” text that would change her life.
“My mom’s best friend, Barb, has a daughter who lives in Duluth with her husband and two children,” Ilg explained.
“They knew about my experience with kids, and she texted me, asking me to come to Duluth and be their in-home nanny. I moved to Duluth a month later.”
Ilg moved into the family home and cared for the kids for the next couple of years, until they entered school. She continues to babysit for the family occasionally and remains very present in the boys’ lives.
While she has now moved on to another home and another career path, she will forever be grateful for this fateful “in,” which brought her to Duluth.
Hospitality
In November 2023, Ilg landed a job at the front desk of Larsmont Cottages, located between Knife River and Two Harbors. Here, she helps with check-in and check-out and all customer concerns. She also helps in the resort’s restaurant and assists in the gift shop.
This job has been a dream for her. “I love to talk about the area, and I love hospitality,” she noted.
It’s clear that the admiration is mutual; she earned the Employee of the Year award in 2024.
Hobbies and Interests
Ilg loves all the outdoor opportunities Duluth and the North Shore have to offer. On her days off, you’ll often find her hunting for rocks on various beaches up the shore.
She paints them freehand and sells them at makers’ markets. She also participates in the St. Paul Art Crawl every year.
Ingrid enjoys leaving random painted rocks outside for other explorers to find and keep. Interestingly, one of her penguin rocks was discovered by Destination Duluth contributor, Adam Malmanger. He reached out, and the two now enjoy a wonderful friendship.
Ilg also loves hiking, with her favorite venues being Oberg Mountain and Tettegouche State Park. She enjoys frequenting unique Duluth establishments, including Hoops Brewing, Ursa Minor Brewing, and Burger Paradox.
Her other hobbies include listening to music (all genres) and unwinding with some TV, including game shows and cooking shows. She lives in the Chester Creek neighborhood with her cat, Sage, whom she adopted from Animal Allies.
Duluth Experience
Ilg shared several details about her move to Duluth. “Living up here is so special,” she explained. “My life is magical.
“If you’re bored, there is so much to do. You can check out the ships coming in, or visit one of the many beaches, breweries, state parks, and restaurants.”
Looking ahead to her future, she said, “I want to continue creating, making art, being a good person, and helping animals. And I’d like to be married one day.”
Now that she’s here, Ilg plans to remain in Duluth permanently. “I want to stay in this area,” she said. “I like the cold. I like the woods. I love how my commute is up the Shore. And, I can see Lake Superior from my home.”
She added with a chuckle, “The Twin Cities and I are tapped out.”
To view Ilg’s painted rock art, she can be found on Instagram, under the handle @i.k.ilg. She can also be contacted via e-mail for commission requests, at ikatia.12@gmail.com.
