Artist Statement

Artist Statement

Katie Kavanagh strives to create balance between a deep reverence for the past while searching for the beauty in a deteriorating, contemporary society. Her images juxtapose traditional themes and images with icons of urban culture. It is through this constant urge to compare and contrast that she exposes the viewer to a realm of thought that pushes them to recognize the similarities and differences between the now and then.
This theme is explored not only through content but also through execution. This is achieved by combining a traditional foundation in painting and draftsmanship with an experimental and expressionistic sensibility that reflects the nature of current times. The final product proves to be an often surreal depiction, with a compulsion to create balance between such extreme elements.
Kavanagh leaves it up to the viewer to decide how each aspect is categorized. It is not her intent to state a specific perspective but rather offer an open forum on what ideals should be maintained or disposed. Playing on the individual's need to constantly judge "good" versus "bad", she hazes the line, bringing into question social acceptance and normalcy.

Bio

Bio

Katie Kavanagh was born and raised in St. Catharines, ON. An introvert from the start, she was displaced among her peers, often making acute observations without a proper outlet in which to express them. It wasn't until the age of 12 that Kavanagh began using her natural ability to draw and conceptualize in order to depict her inquiry of the social heirarchy of adolescence. Her ability to question everything maintained throughout her highscool years, allowing her to futher her knack for observation and adapt her artsitic skills respectively. Upon graduation, Katie decided to pursue a career in the arts. She is now on the brink of her final year in Sheridan College's BAA Illustration program. Although her work continues to grow technically and conceptually, she maintains a concise goal of expression and exploration that has always been her natural inclination.

'...and I shambled after as I've been doing all my life after people who interest me, because the only people for me are the mad ones, the ones who are mad to live, mad to talk, mad to be saved, desirous of everything at the same time, the ones who never yawn or say a commonplace thing, but burn, burn, burn like fabulous yellow roman candles exploding like spiders across the stars and in the middle you see the blue centerlight pop and everybody goes "Awww!"'

Jack Kerouac
From his book: On The Road

Horsegun

The Noose

Deer Tracks

Beautiful, sobbing

High-geared fucking
And then to lie silently
Like deer tracks in the
Freshly-fallen snow beside
The one you love.
That's all.

-Richard Brautigan