artist statement - Kate Protage
I have a love/hate relationship with the cities in which I've lived. Everywhere I look, evidence of planning and structure exists simultaneously with chaos and unpredictability. Depending on the time of day, there are two worlds that exist in the same physical space: streets that appear gritty, dirty and depressing by day turn into an environment infused with a strange kind of lush, dark beauty and romance at night. Taking it all in can be both stressful and exciting, and I feel compelled to capture these moments and remember them.
What interests me most is the junction between sensation and fact the way different objects come together, a combination of colors, lines and geometric shapes working together in a lyrical fashion to form intensely vivid, sometimes quite abstracted compositions. The origin of individual shapes becomes unimportant as color and texture take over, and different emotions emerge.
My paintings are the beginning of a story a space that is somewhat recognizable and familiar, but leaves room for the story of the viewer' s choosing. Whether it feels magical and beautiful, or oppressive and ominous, that's up to the viewer; but the plan is to take people to another place, one that's part memory and part imagination, and provide them with a momentary escape.
I seek visual harmony, order and polish in a tumultuous world, these are the things that keep me balanced, and they are the tools for my escape. I choose to pursue beauty.
EDUCATION
2003-2005 Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY Master of Fine Arts degree with honors in Painting
2001-2003 Academy of Art College, San Francisco, CA Fine Art undergraduate course credits
1986-1990 Smith College, Northampton, MA Bachelor of Arts degree in Art and English Literature
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2007 Allen Sheppard Gallery, New York, NY
2006 Out of the Gate, Hot Dish, Seattle, WA
2005 Convergence, Steuben East Gallery, Pratt Institute, Brooklyn, NY
2004 Offices of PNC Bank, Princeton, NJ
2003 Sutter Window Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2002 Utrecht Art Store, San Francisco, CA
Sutter Window Gallery, San Francisco, CA
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2007 Group Exhibition, Ace Studios Gallery, Seattle, WA
The Round, Fremont Abbey Arts Center, Seattle, WA
Artifakt, The F-Stop, Seattle, WA
Through the Looking Glass, ArtReach, Seattle, WA
2006 Three Strong Women | Three Strong Visions, Allen Sheppard Gallery, New York, NY
Way Back When, Ace Studios Gallery, Seattle, WA
Progression, Castle House Gallery, Poulsbo, WA
The Art of the Heart: Work by Kate Protage and Chris Sheridan, Qbix Art Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
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2005 Intersection: Paintings by Chris Sheridan and Kate Protage, Framesmith Gallery, Princeton, NJ
Off the Wall, Qbix Art Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Annual 2nd Year MFA Show, Pratt Manhattan, New York, NY
Found Wanting, Gallery MC, New York, NY
Point of Departure, 111 Main Street, Brooklyn, NY
Simulacrum, Gallery 612, New York, NY
Current work, Framesmith Gallery, Princeton, NJ
2004 Art Salon, Exxperimenta Art Space, New York, NY
Art Auction, Crozer-Chester Professional's Group Spring Benefit, Media, PA
Fall Show, Steuben East Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Current work, Framesmith Gallery, Princeton, NJ
Current work, Posh, Media, PA
Open House, Cicco, Skillman, NJ
Group show, Steuben East Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
MFAs Colliding, NYU, New York, NY
2003 Group show, Steuben East Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
Current work, Posh, Media, PA
Naturescapes, 688 Sutter AAC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Academy of Art College Spring Show, 79 New Montgomery AAC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Current work, 79 New Montgomery AAC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Collective Unconscious, 688 Sutter AAC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Junior League of San Francisco Silent Auction, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CA
National Portfolio Day, 180 New Montgomery AAC academic building, San Francisco, CA
2002 Beauty of Winter II, 410 Bush AAC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Current work, 79 New Montgomery AAC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Abstract Painting Show, 625 Sutter and 688 Sutter AAC Galleries, San Francisco, CA
Recent Works of Kate Protage & David McDermott, 625 Sutter AAC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
AAC Spring Show, 79 New Montgomery AAC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Studio 410, 625 Sutter AAC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2002, Recent Works of Kate Protage & Dana Spaeth, Presidio Alliance, San Francisco, CA
Bay Area Collaborative Project: East Bay Meets West Bay, June Steingart Gallery, Oakland, CA
Junior League of San Francisco Silent Auction, Fairmont Hotel, San Francisco, CA
Current work, 79 New Montgomery AAC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Abstract Human Nature II, 688 Sutter AAC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
2001 Beauty of Winter, 410 Bush AAC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
Abstract Human Nature, 625 Sutter AAC Gallery, San Francisco, CA
In-house Artists, Wunderman, San Francisco, CA
COMMISSIONS
2006 Nutcracker March, fundraiser sponsored by the Pacific Northwest Ballet benefiting Northwest
Center. Decorated nutcracker sculptures were placed around city and auctioned at end of exhibit.
2003 Painting for private collection, San Francisco, CA
A Fresh Idea, San Francisco Bench Project sponsored by ING. Charity event supporting the arts/art education. Painted benches were auctioned off and placed around the city.
PUBLICATIONS
2006 Q Magazine, issue one of quarterly gallery magazine
2005 The Best of Qbix, annual gallery catalog produced for the holiday season
2003 Artwork featured in AAC advertisement placed in Art in America
RELATED EXPERIENCE
2004-2005 Vice President of Pratt Artists League, a student-run organization that plans, organizes, promotes and runs exhibitions