Katie Thomas

Ōtautahi Christchurch

Katie Thomas is both a painter and a sculptor. Thomas gained a Bachelor of Fine Arts Ilam in 1994 and a Master of Fine Arts Ilam in 2011. During the past two decades, Thomas has utilised various materials, including wood, old books and transparent industrial resin, to produce works which defy specific categorisation.

Since 2008, Thomas has returned to drawing and painting, producing large scale works where delicate mark making, texture, light and colour overlap. Thomas has artworks in both private and international collections, including the Te Puna O Waiwheto Christchurch Art Gallery and Arts House Trust Collection.

As an abstract painter, landscapes largely influence my work. Rather than an expansive view, my interest is in the intimate spaces we inhabit, where we engage with nature, trees, leaves and flowers up close. My aim is to evoke an impression of a place or season rather than give a literal description of the natural world. An interest in colour and mark-making dominates my practice. The use of recurring motifs is a means of bringing cohesion to my works. I aim to produce art which quietly reveals its meaning to the viewer over time.