About the Artist

Katharine Gotham

Artist at Heart

I grew up in New Jersey and spent a lot of my childhood boating on the bays and swimming in the ocean at the Jersey shore.  Even though I now live in Minnesota, the sights and sounds of the ocean continue to hold a strong sway over me.  A few years after graduating from Rutgers University, my husband and I took a circuitous path around the country and decided that Minnesota would be where we called home.  For over 20 years, I was a studio ceramic artist in the Twin Cities creating playful, one-of-a kind pots.  My ceramic works have been in many regional and national shows, several publications including two books on ceramics, and The New York Times.

In 2013, I took a leap of faith and packed up my ceramic studio to focus on painting and drawing.  I was fortunate to find some wonderful teachers and discovered that I loved the challenges of being a painter.  In 2017, I debuted my first collection at Loring Park Festival in Minneapolis and was honored to be selected as a featured artist.  Since then I have exhibited my paintings in both regional and national shows including Art-A-Whirl, Edina Members Juried Show, Johnson Heritage Post Gallery in Grand Marais, MN, Spirit of the St. Croix Festival,  311 Gallery in Raleigh NC,  San Fernando Valley Arts, and the Pablo Center for the Arts in Eau Claire, WI.

The major influence on my work is life itself.  I love to set up my easel in front of my subject to carefully observe and then work to distill its essence through painting. When I was little girl, I wanted to be a magician.  I think what drew me to both ceramics and painting was an element of magic; the ability to create something lasting and meaningful out of humble ingredients--a lump of clay, or some paint and brushes.  

Thanks so much for reading this!  Feel free to contact me if you have any questions about my work.