Katie Hawley

Katie Hawley

Fine Artist

 

Katie Hawley moved to Michigan over a decade ago, searching for her roots as she was born in Michigan but adopted and raised in sunny Arizona and Southern California. There she embraced the outdoors and studied child development, art, and psychology. Drawing and painting since she was 2 years old, she decided to further her education at the College for Creative Studies in Detroit.

Graphic design was her first choice at CCS, but after three years of doing graphic design, she changed her major multiple times and fell in love with every aspect of fine art with a concentration in art therapy. Upon graduating in 2009 with honors, she was selected by her peers and professors and honored with the Senior Selection Award of Excellence in Fine Art. Her work is on display in CCS’ fine art permanent collection.

She has continued to focus on communities in Detroit. She was involved in the “Illuminated Mural” project on East Grand Boulevard. During this time a group of friends and colleagues developed a studio and gallery event space run by artists to give a voice to emerging artists of all flavors and ages, as well as studio space to work. As a result of this effort, she co-founded North End Studios Collective LLC.

She continues to be an active artist collaborating and curating with NES and doing large abstract collages, resin paintings, and installations while raising her daughter and working full time. She’s also a creative art coordinator for a vocational training program in Troy called Therapeutic Rehabilitation Universal.

As a studio artist, she is drawn toward large-scale resin pouring and high energy abstract painting. Hawley is deep thinker on the human condition and likes to give the audience an experience that can be positive, creating good conversations and building a connection with the viewer. She loves conceptual mixed media, collage, found object, installations, sound, photography, and graphic design. She collaborates and curates in local and international shows and publications: Navel, Detroit Artist Market, Motor City Blog, Art Space, College for Creative Studies, Cranbrook Academy of Art, Art Prize “Lets Talk About Love Baby,” a traveling library show, Detroit Design Festival, and Windsor Jewish Federation. She also donates works to charities such as Plant with a Purpose, in San Diego, Calif., and other nonprofit organizations.