Katherine Cleave
k_cleave@hotmail.com

ARTIST STATEMENT

KATHERINE CLEAVE studied at Winchester School of Fine Art and Goldsmiths College, specialising in Painting. She uses a variety of styles to explore our perception of identity and our experiences as an individual within society. The medium of collage has provided a wonderful outlet to subvert the context of a known image and recast the central character against a backdrop of visual poetry.

The stretched skin of the canvas literally becomes a stage for characters to adopt a painted mask, the wax-like seal of the enamel paint offers another skin-like mask to apply a taut emotion. Some of her characters are pantomime dames or mime artists, creating a wonderful parody of human emotions with which to underline the increasing lack of reality between what we feel and what we project.

Recurring themes such as the creation and appraisal of art; the individual within society; time; the fragility of health; death and masquerade are all prevalent in both her artwork and poetry.

"Creating a piece is like giving an inanimate object power. I feel that a piece is finished when it has taken on a life form on its own. It has its own presence, it no longer needs me."

Katherine has exhibited in Belgium, Germany and London, the most recent being Rose House, Barnes.



PUBLIC COMMISSIONS

PORTRAITS
Sarah (Pretty in Pink)
Astrid (Dancer)
Giselle (Woman in Red)
Guy (Joker)
Will (Will)

PAINTINGS
S.Johnson (Sanctuary)
J.Smith (Landscape)
Julian (Mime Artist)

MURALS
Camden & Westminster Council - Whitfield St., London W1T
Translation Company - Antwerp, Belgium

SCULPTURE
Clay Hand
Stef Camil Karlens, Singer (DEUS / MOONDOG JNR)