Katie Steward
Katie is a visual artist and graphic designer based in Sausalito, California. With a BFA from Pratt Institute, she founded Shion Studio in 2017 after spending a decade as a Design Director at some of the nation’s largest advertising agencies. She has a design-forward approach, specializing in branding and digital design for clients while developing simple yet organic works in oil paint.
In her art practice, Katie aspires to illuminate the joy inherent in the ordinary. Drawing inspiration from the humor and intrigue found in the simplicity of her surroundings, she transforms these elements through the prism of her unique perspective.
Since 2009, she has shown her work in galleries from New York to California and was previously interviewed for her work on an exterior mural project in San Francisco. Katie’s dual commitment to design and art creates an impactful presence that translates seamlessly between the two mediums.
Artist Statement
Katie aspires to illuminate the joy inherent in the ordinary. Drawing inspiration from the humor and intrigue found in the simplicity of her surroundings, she transforms these elements through the prism of her unique perspective.
Katie’s most recent work is a series of places and spaces found in the cities and landscapes of California. Exploring architectural structures alongside the nuanced beauty of plants and foliage, she captures the distinctive and uplifting emotions concealed within the seemingly mundane or neglected corners of urban and natural environments.
www.katiesteward.com
How has the environment you grew up in affected your art practice?
I grew up on the East Coast, just outside NYC. In many ways, this has contributed directly to the development of my most recent work. I’ve been focusing on exteriors, architecture, and plants on the West Coast, which all feel very foreign to me based on what I knew as a kid. Traveling and being in places that look different from what I knew has always fascinated me. I think mid-century buildings and the otherworldly landscapes of California have a dream-like quality that I always wanted to be around when I was younger.
If your artwork was a mirror, what would it reflect?
It would reflect a sense of wonder and playfulness, and a desire not to take everything so seriously. I think my most recent work captures a focus on details and patience, yet it also incorporates purposefully thick textures, sometimes crooked lines, and a little bit of silliness that I believe is important both in art and in life.
What is the most difficult part (or your least favorite part) of your process?
For me, it’s having patience. Taking the time to let the paint dry when I need to, or accepting that it might take several months to finish a painting. I have a tendency to want to finish things and see results, and lately, I’ve been working on enjoying the process and not rushing anything along.
Pursuing ‘artist’ as a career is not for the faint of heart. What is the most rewarding aspect of this pursuit?
I think some people just need to create things, and pursuing this is less of a choice and more something I need to do to feel like myself. To me, the most rewarding part is knowing that I’m spending my time doing something I love.
If your art is in a lineage of artists working within similar veins, who would be part of your lineage and why?
If I were to answer this in a grandiose manner, I’d say that my current work on California exteriors could be preceded by great artists like Edward Hopper and David Hockney. That said, it feels a bit excessive to put myself among those names. In terms of contemporary art, some of my favorite artists today are Heather Day and Chiaozza. I wouldn’t say my work is particularly related to either of theirs in subject matter, but I am inspired by both in separate ways.
