Kathleen McCarty's Abstract Practice Explores Light and Intuition
Artist Kathleen McCarty creates large-scale abstract paintings characterized by vibrant color fields and gestural movement. Her work draws from traditions of Color Field painting and post-painterly abstraction, with a focus on intuitive processes rather than predetermined outcomes. McCarty earned a BFA from the Art Institute of Chicago and spent formative time in Florence, Italy, before relocating to Northwest Washington's Skagit Valley, where coastal light and landscape influence her chromatic palette. A significant shift in her practice involves working with raw canvas placed on the floor, using staining and pouring techniques to create luminous, layered compositions. Her paintings, such as the work 'Collide,' emphasize structural tension and environmental resonance, aiming to evoke uplift and sensory immersion. McCarty continues to develop new large-scale works in her studio, integrating earlier methods with ongoing exploration.
Key facts
- Kathleen McCarty creates abstract paintings using intuitive, process-driven methods.
- She holds a BFA from the Art Institute of Chicago and was influenced by studies in Florence, Italy.
- Her relocation to Skagit Valley in Northwest Washington informs her use of light and color.
- McCarty works with raw canvas on the floor, employing staining and pouring techniques.
- Her paintings, like 'Collide,' focus on chromatic vitality, scale, and environmental resonance.
Entities
Artists
- Kathleen McCarty
Institutions
Locations
- Wisconsin
- Florence, Italy
- Skagit Valley, Northwest Washington
Sources
- AATONAU —