Kathryn Hackney is a lifelong oil painter from Northwest Washington whose work dances between abstract and realism. Painting in multiple styles promotes moments of play and growth. Abstract expressionism encourages innovation, risk, exploration, and detachment. These skills carry over into her objective work, allowing for more bold decisions and expanded color palettes when painting realism and nature.

Kathryn is currently based in the greater Seattle area after living in Ventura, CA and Salt Lake City, UT for several years. Home studio tours are not available.

Fun Facts:

  • Kathryn donated a kidney to her brother-in-law in 2023. He’s doing incredible and living a healthy, active life!

  • Kathryn used to be in the handmade skincare industry and has taught advanced swirling techniques at the Handcrafted Soapmakers Guild conference in Miami, FL and Raleigh, NC, and was the judge at the American Dairy Goat Association Bath and Body Competition in Idaho two years in a row.

  • Most recently, she has worked in the outdoor industry as a visual merchandiser at Patagonia headquarters in Ventura, CA, Cotopaxi HQ in Salt Lake City, UT, and Eddie Bauer HQ in Seattle, WA.

Education:

BA degree in painting and art history, Western Washington University, 2007

Bio:

A woman smiling while holding a small dog in an outdoor setting with rocky formations and trees in the background

Artist’s Statement:

“The earliest memory I have of wanting to be an artist was in Kindergarten or first grade when a teacher pulled me out of class and asked if I wanted to paint something on the school mural.

I went as high up on the ladder that I could go and painted the largest, boldest red flower that I could reach. I felt loud and big and found a new kind of voice. I have always been the smallest and quietest of any group and was picked on for that. This was like a super power— a way to communicate without having to speak any words.

Current Representation:

Brazen Shop + Studio in Bellingham, WA. Offering a selection of signed prints and originals in store.

Are you a gallery or business looking for local artwork to display?

Please contact me at kathrynhackneyart@gmail.com to discuss opportunities.

Artist sitting in studio wearing headphones, looking at a large painting on an easel. The painting depicts a colorful sunset over a silhouette of pine trees and mountains.
Close-up of a hand holding a paintbrush painting on a canvas.
Person posing with three colorful landscape paintings, including a canyon scene, night sky with moon, and abstract rock formations.
Artist painting a large, colorful abstract mural outdoors, casting a shadow on the artwork. The scene captures the creative process and the blending of orange and blue tones.
Art studio with canvases, easel, ladder, and painting supplies
Smiling woman standing next to abstract cloud painting on easel against a rustic wall.
Artist painting canvas with colorful abstract design