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Kate Breakey Photography

Australian, b. 1957
Kate Breakey is internationally known for her large-scale, richly hand-colored photographs including her acclaimed series of luminous portraits of birds, flowers and animals in a series called Small Deaths published in 2001 by University of Texas Press. Her other monographs include Painted Light, University of Texas in 2010, a career retrospective that encompasses a quarter century of prolific image making. Her collection of photograms, entitled 'Las Sombras / The shadows' was published by University of Texas Press in October 2012. This series is a continuation of her lifetime investigation of the natural world which in her own words is ‘brimming with fantastic mysterious beautiful things. Since 1980 her work has appeared in more than 110 one-person exhibitions and in over 60 group exhibitions. A native of South Australia, Kate moved to Austin, Texas in 1988. She completed a Master of Fine Arts degree at the University of Texas in 1991 where she also taught photography in the Department of Art and Art History until 1997. Her collections include the Houston Museum of Fine Arts, the Center for Creative Photography, Tucson, The Australian National Gallery, and the San Diego Museum of Photographic Arts, as well as various private collections. She has resided in Tucson, Arizona for 20 years. She regularly teaches workshops nationally and internationally.
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Artist: Kate Breakey
Bare Tree, Mexico

Bare Tree, Mexico

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Nine Lunar Eclipses (I)
Nine Lunar Eclipses (I)

Nine Lunar Eclipses (I)

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Canvas, Archival Pigment

Still Life with Mandarines

Still Life with Mandarines

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

White Swan

White Swan

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Blue Morpho Butterfly

Blue Morpho Butterfly

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

The Element ‘Gold, (Au) can only be make in the nuclear reactor of stars. It came to our planet when the Earth was first forming, as dust from catastrophic astronomical events –sta...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Nest IV

Nest IV

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Portraits of found nests. Price includes frame.

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Archival Ink

White Witch Moth

White Witch Moth

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Mushrooms, Tuscany

Mushrooms, Tuscany

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Palo Verde Beetle

Palo Verde Beetle

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

The Element ‘Gold, (Au) can only be make in the nuclear reactor of stars. It came to our planet when the Earth was first forming, as dust from catastrophic astronomical events –sta...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Horny Toad

Horny Toad

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Tulip Bud

Tulip Bud

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Artist Statement For me, the artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both ...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Live Oak Tree, Texas

Live Oak Tree, Texas

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Artist Statement For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both i...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Birds on a Wire

Birds on a Wire

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Archival Pigment Print on Glass Plate Backed with 24kt Gold Leaf GOLDEN STARDUST . The Element ‘Gold, (Au) can only be make in the nuclear reactor of stars. It came to our planet...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

My Sister's White Cat

My Sister's White Cat

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Ghosts of Love If love took form, if we could see it, and if so watch, as it faded, or got lost, or just gave up, slowly softly, disappeared, disillusioned, dejected, I think I saw it, as a tree in the woods, as a pale moth, a boat upturned on a shore, moonlight on ocean, a feather, drifting down, discarded, I looked and, love was everywhere, sighing, trembling, shimmering, fluttering, tender, as it departed, and as I watched...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Tree, South of France

Tree, South of France

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Humming Bird Flying

Humming Bird Flying

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

The Element ‘Gold, (Au) can only be make in the nuclear reactor of stars. It came to our planet when the Earth was first forming, as dust from catastrophic astronomical events –sta...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Rattlesnake

Rattlesnake

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Eucalyptus Trees, Xmas Day, South Australia

Eucalyptus Trees, Xmas Day, South Australia

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Limited edition of 20 Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorpora...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Nest II

Nest II

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Portraits of found nests. Price includes frame.

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Archival Ink

Nine Lunar Eclipses (G)
Nine Lunar Eclipses (G)

Nine Lunar Eclipses (G)

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Canvas, Archival Pigment

Chrysanthemum in a bottle

Chrysanthemum in a bottle

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Artist Statement For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both i...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Moonlit Water, Arno Bay, South Australia

Moonlit Water, Arno Bay, South Australia

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Two Magnolia

Two Magnolia

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Shiny Shell

Shiny Shell

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

White Flowers in a Bottle

White Flowers in a Bottle

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Sonoran Whipsnake

Sonoran Whipsnake

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

In 1834, William Henry Fox Talbot (1800–1877) saw that silver salts darkened in the sun and invented a photographic process he called “photogenic drawing” — in which images were made...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Sphinx, River Thames

Sphinx, River Thames

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Single Spider Chrysanthemum

Single Spider Chrysanthemum

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Sprouting Onion
Sprouting Onion

Sprouting Onion

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual a...

Category

2010s Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Nest III

Nest III

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Portraits of found nests. Price includes frame.

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Archival Ink

House Finch on Yucca, Arizona

House Finch on Yucca, Arizona

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Rose

Rose

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Encaustic Print – Encaustic printing employs the addition of heated beeswax, and occasionally pigment, to the prepared surface of a photographic print, giving the object a unique to...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Digital Pigment

Two Protea

Two Protea

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Nine Lunar Eclipses (E)
Nine Lunar Eclipses (E)

Nine Lunar Eclipses (E)

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Canvas, Archival Pigment

White Coi

White Coi

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Pair of Hummingbirds

Pair of Hummingbirds

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

In 1834, William Henry Fox Talbot (1800–1877) saw that silver salts darkened in the sun and invented a photographic process he called “photogenic drawing” — in which images were made...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Droopy Daisies

Droopy Daisies

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Artist Statement For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both i...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Buckeye, Plum Creek, Texas

Buckeye, Plum Creek, Texas

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Swamp, Virginia Creeper, Plum Creek, Texas

Swamp, Virginia Creeper, Plum Creek, Texas

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Limited edition of 20 Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorpora...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Beach Willunga, South Australia

Beach Willunga, South Australia

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Chaseberry Leaf

Chaseberry Leaf

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

In 1834, William Henry Fox Talbot (1800–1877) saw that silver salts darkened in the sun and invented a photographic process he called “photogenic drawing” — in which images were made...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Oak Leaf

Oak Leaf

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

In 1834, William Henry Fox Talbot (1800–1877) saw that silver salts darkened in the sun and invented a photographic process he called “photogenic drawing” — in which images were made...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Silver Gelatin

Birds on Wire

Birds on Wire

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

The Element ‘Gold, (Au) can only be made in the nuclear reactor of stars. It came to our planet when the Earth was first forming, as dust from catastrophic astronomical events –stars...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Nest 23

Nest 23

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Silk, Archival Pigment

Wing

Wing

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Pale Sapling, Edge of Swamp, Plum Creek Texas

Pale Sapling, Edge of Swamp, Plum Creek Texas

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Shetland Islands

Shetland Islands

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Twenty-Two Birds, New Mexico

Twenty-Two Birds, New Mexico

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

"Pear II (#18/20)" - Photograph on Museum glass, gilded w/ 24Kt Gold Leaf
"Pear II (#18/20)" - Photograph on Museum glass, gilded w/ 24Kt Gold Leaf

"Pear II (#18/20)" - Photograph on Museum glass, gilded w/ 24Kt Gold Leaf

By Kate Breakey

Located in Denver, CO

About the artist: Kate Breakey is internationally known for her large-scale, richly hand-colored photographs including her acclaimed series of luminous portraits of birds, flowers ...

Category

2010s Photorealist Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Leopard Moth

Leopard Moth

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Shetland Islands, Golden Stardust
Shetland Islands, Golden Stardust

Shetland Islands, Golden Stardust

By Kate Breakey

Located in Columbia, MO

Kate Breakey is internationally known for her large-scale, richly hand-colored photographs including her acclaimed series of luminous portraits of birds, flowers and animals in a ser...

Category

21st Century and Contemporary Naturalistic Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Night Snake

Night Snake

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Kate Breakey is internationally known for her large-scale, richly hand-colored photographs including her acclaimed series of luminous portraits of birds, flowers and animals in a series called Small Deaths published in 2001 by University of Texas...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Tree of Life, Mesquite, Full Moon Rising, Bahrain

Tree of Life, Mesquite, Full Moon Rising, Bahrain

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Kate Breakey's artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual a...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Pumpkin

Pumpkin

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Raven on Lace

Raven on Lace

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Portrait of a Raven
Portrait of a Raven

Portrait of a Raven

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

When the trembling heart stops beating, what remains is a tiny beautiful corpse. I make a portrait to commemorate that life and to express my sorrow and regret. It’s my gesture towar...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Sterling Silver Rose

Sterling Silver Rose

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Pastel, Pencil, Archival Pigment

Penstemon in a Bottle

Penstemon in a Bottle

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

I've been fascinated with botany and have photographed flowers for 40 years now. Flowers were around long before animals – about 140 million years. There are estimated to be 400,000...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment

Hydrangea in a Bottle

Hydrangea in a Bottle

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

For me, an artistic process is an act of investigation – a passionate attempt to establish an understanding of the natural world – a version that incorporates both intellectual and e...

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Archival Pigment, Pastel, Pencil

Waxing Crescent

Waxing Crescent

By Kate Breakey

Located in Sante Fe, NM

Orotones leafed in 24kt gold, Price includes frame

Category

2010s Contemporary Kate Breakey Photography

Materials

Gold Leaf

Kate Breakey photography for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Kate Breakey photography available for sale on 1stDibs. If you’re browsing the collection of photography to introduce a pop of color in a neutral corner of your living room or bedroom, you can find work that includes elements of blue and other colors. You can also browse by medium to find art by Kate Breakey in pigment print, archival pigment print, crayon and more. Much of the original work by this artist or collective was created during the 21st century and contemporary and is mostly associated with the contemporary style. Not every interior allows for large Kate Breakey photography, so small editions measuring 3 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of David H. Gibson, Beth Moon, and Pentti Sammallahti. Kate Breakey photography prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $500 and tops out at $6,000, while the average work can sell for $1,500.