Katrina Revenaugh

Unexpected Blooms No. 14

2023

Abstract artist Katrina Revenaugh skillfully integrates her passion for graffiti into captivating mixed-media masterpieces, employing a digital collage process that blends photography with traditional painting techniques on wood, metal, and canvas. Her vibrant creations transcend the chaos of urban street art, offering a unique language of self-expression. Born outside Chicago, Katrina's creative journey began with childhood drawings and crafts, inspired by her family's artistic inclinations. In high school, she earned a reputation as the "art girl," contributing to school plays and yearbook covers. Following an 18-year career in communication sales, she embraced her artistic calling later in life. Relocating to Venice Beach, California, sparked Katrina's fascination with graffiti, leading her to document the vibrant textures, patterns, and colors of decaying urban walls. This immersion culminated in her enrollment at Otis College of Art & Design in 2008. Katrina's creative process involves meticulous research and photography of urban graffiti elements. Rather than capturing entire walls, she dissects smaller segments, incorporating them into her art. The digital images undergo transformation into line art using Adobe Illustrator. Influenced by print artist Bonny Pierce Lhotka's techniques, Katrina developed her unique process, utilizing pigments, ink, acrylic, oil pastel, and spray paint in layers. Her method includes transferring digital images to substrates like wood, paper, or metal through a hydrostatic solution process. This intricate layering necessitates extended drying times, allowing her to work on multiple pieces simultaneously in her home studio. Graffiti explorations, often planned around her husband's business trips, take Katrina to various cities worldwide. Notable among them is Melbourne, Australia, where graffiti art is celebrated with maps and school field trips. Her spontaneous excursions, like a day spent exploring urban street art in Antwerp, Belgium, demonstrate her commitment to her craft. Residing in Kansas City, Katrina is an active member of the local art community. Beyond her paintings, she collaborates with apparel designers, serves on the board of the Kansas City Artists Coalition, and engages with the vibrant artistic scene. Kansas City's supportive environment, complemented by renowned institutions like Hallmark and the Kemper Museum, adds to the richness of her creative experience. Katrina's artwork, characterized by its emotional depth, complexity, and elegance, reflects her affinity for vibrant colors like pinks, neon greens, and yellows. Through her compositions, she masterfully merges the rawness of urban environments, providing a stylistic transformation of her love for graffiti into a deeply personal and expressive art form.