Katherine Van Drie

Katherine Van Drie is a multi-media artist whose sculptural works encompass, among other things, textiles and ceramics. Originally from the United Kingdom, Katherine spent several childhood years in Mexico City and, as an adult, traveled extensively before moving to the United States. Those experiences have illuminated her current explorations of identity, consumption, and culture.

Katherine’s work is informed by the glaring and nuanced social codes embedded in our culture. She completed her BFA at Indiana University Northwest, with two pieces held in Indiana University’s permanent art collection. Katherine earned her MFA in Visual Art, with a concentration in Sculpture, from Clemson University. She currently teaches at the South Carolina School of the Arts at Anderson University and is a member of Tiger Strikes Asteroid Greenville and the Tri-State Sculpture Association.

Her work has been exhibited at venues including the Bridgeport Art Center, 33 Contemporary Gallery, Beverly Arts Center, and Zhou B. Art Center in Chicago, as well as the South Shore Center for the Arts in Munster, Indiana University Northwest, Indiana University East, and Calumet College (solo show). Katherine currently has a piece featured in the Tiger Strikes Asteroid exhibition in Los Angeles.


Artist Statement

My work reflects the journey my family and I have taken navigating the negative cultural influences we encounter daily. Unfortunately, our lives have been touched by the superficial values perpetuated through social media and diet industry advertising, so I considered ways to bring healing and discussion to the table. The pressures to attain significance and success through often unattainable, homogenous goals of lifestyle, health, and beauty are immense. I've Been Told (i) considers the struggle with internalized cultural norms shared by so many of us. It is comprised of scrunched-up fabric printed with a conversation taken from an Instagram post in which a woman recounts personal comments made by relatives about her weight gain after recovering from a long-term eating disorder. One of her followers empathizes, saying, “I’ve been told I’d be so pretty if I lost weight.”

I realized for my own sake that I needed to inject humor into my work and began to wonder what our bodies would say if they could talk about what we do to them. Thus, Intimate Distortions were born. These are sculptural amalgamations of upcycled textiles, cast plastic, and other materials. I use textiles to provoke consideration of our multifarious connections and how the fabrics we use affix us to a time and place within our culture and in our relationships with one another. These sculptures exist in a space between nature and culture—a place of hybridity that alludes to something evolved and “natural,” but also to the historical, social, and cultural constructs that humans continue to live within. This work explores how we, as part of the natural world, contrive to mold and conceal our identities, presenting ourselves to others in enhanced and fabricated ways.


www.katherinevandrie.com

What initially drew you to art?

I have always thought that art is an integral part of the human experience. It brings life and richness to our journey on this planet. I was born and raised in the United Kingdom and spent part of my early childhood in Mexico. Growing up, I spent hours drawing, sewing, and building houses and furniture out of cardboard and scrap wood for my toys. After high school, I almost went to art school but instead pursued a job that took me overseas, inspired by the travel bug instilled during my formative experiences.

After a career with the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, my husband and I moved to the U.S., where we started a family. At some point, I decided to pursue a Bachelor’s in Fine Art and explore what I had put on hold all those years before. I’ve always been interested in three-dimensional forms and gravitated toward them in university.


What elements of your life have ended up becoming a part of your art?

As anyone with children can attest, we use and consume a great deal in our lives—from outgrown outfits and toys to the changing trends that guide us as we build our homes. I began reflecting on how the things we use and surround ourselves with tell a story about who we are, our struggles, expectations, and beliefs.

Initially, my pieces were comprised of detritus and found objects that seemed to breed in our home. This led to larger works, including an 8-foot-tall piece covered in shoes, weighing over 500 pounds.

A separate body of work was inspired during a trip to the pharmacy when a small tube of prescription cream for my child totaled almost $700 without insurance. This sparked Auxilium Persolutum (Paid Help), exploring healthcare and pharmaceutical industry disparities.

While completing my MFA, I delved into the diet and beauty industries' impact on mental health, producing I've Been Told. This series critiques cultural stereotypes, unattainable ideals, and the resulting internalized pressures.

Living in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains has also influenced me. Observing the unadulterated beauty of nature inspired Intimate Distortions, which blend porcelain, upcycled textiles, cast plastic, and other materials to explore the hybridity between nature and cultural constructs.


What about your practice do you find the most fulfilling and/or energizing?

I love working in my studio! I know it’s a privilege, and I’m incredibly thankful for my supportive husband, who manages household chores so I can maximize my creative time.

I also teach Ceramics at Anderson University, which brings me immense joy. Sharing my skills with students is deeply fulfilling, and I plan to start workshops to help others heal, grow, and find fulfillment through creativity. Watching people connect with the conversations my work provokes is especially rewarding.


Tell us about your experience getting to where you are now. What has been the most important thing you’ve learned?

My journey has been circuitous, but one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is to have the courage to pursue something I’m passionate about. It’s never too late to try something new. Graduating with my master’s in 2021 and beginning to teach in 2023 has opened an exciting new chapter in my life.


How has ‘community’ impacted your artistic practice?

Community is vitally important to both mental health and an art practice. I’m fortunate to have close friendships with my MFA cohort and wonderful colleagues at the university.

As a member of Tiger Strikes Asteroid Greenville, I connect with artists beyond my local community and bring opportunities to exhibit in our gallery space. These and other organizations enrich my practice, allowing me to share, receive feedback, and collaborate with other artists.