Philadelphia Based Painter Working In Contemporary Realism

I am a Philadelphia based painter working in contemporary realism. I earned my BFA from Rosemont College and my MFA at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. I would describe my work as bright and colorful, with elements of pop art, yet staying within the tradition of observational painting.

Pop art has been a huge theme in my work for many years. One of my biggest influences, when I was in art school, was James Rosenquist, an American pop art painter who painted large scale realist paintings based on collages he made. In addition to pop art, my work has also been heavily influenced by figurative realism and portraiture. The constant theme in my work is a love of both representational art and contemporary art. I’ve always strived to render the world in a traditional medium with a modern aesthetic. I have often incorporated abstraction, pop art, illustration, patterns, and typography into my figurative paintings and portraits. At a time when we are overloaded with so many styles and art to choose from, I seek to further develop my love for both realism and modernism.

I believe as artists, we are always chasing some idea, thought or memory. There’s always some theme or subject matter that keeps popping up. I’ve had many elements in my paintings that make an appearance over and over again. Whether it is a cartoon character, a kitschy figurine, a flower, a piece of art history, etc—I believe my job as an artist is to try and make sense of all these subconscious notions floating around in my head. Really, my paintings are about nostalgia, my memories, and my identity as an American woman born in the late 20th century. ~ Kate Geiger

A Fresh Start oil on canvas by Kate Geiger “A Fresh Start” oil on canvas, 30 x 30 inches