I am a graphic designer, painter, and bookbinder. With oil paint on canvas, oil-based ink on paper, and pigments on paper for book covers I create stylized landscapes and images that reference microscopic biological forms and macroscopic extraterrestrial masses. I use organic shapes, bright colors, and thick layers that suggest planets and cellular structures to evoke the process of many natural systems moving from their creation to decay. The letterpress prints are personal statements that represent my thoughts and emotions. My work shows a variety of visual and tactile textures that symbolize inconsistency, abnormal ideas, anxiety, and discomfort within my environment.

 

Katherine N. Smith is a Chicago-based artist who has shown both oil paintings and letterpress prints locally. Katherine received her Bachelors of Arts in Studio Art with a concentration in Graphic Design from Northeastern Illinois University in 2016 where she had a solo exhibition titled Change. In 2017 Katherine was included in the Biennial Juried Alumni Exhibition. Katherine has been a member of Spudnik Press Cooperative since 2016 where she volunteers frequently, creates letterpress prints and hand-sewn books, and has been a key-holder. Katherine also volunteers for AIGA–Chicago where she has been an active member since 2014.