about Kate
Kate Bae is a multi-disciplinary immigrant artist based in Brooklyn and Busan. Her practice encompasses painting, alongside the creation of site-specific installations and sculptural works. Bae holds an MFA from the Rhode Island School of Design and a BFA in Painting from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. She is the founder of Women's Cactus for the Arts and has exhibited nationally and internationally, including recent shows at the Jeju Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum.
Bae is a recipient of grants from the Puffin Foundation, the Real Art Award, the MVP Chapter Lead Grant from the Malikah Gender Justice Institute, and the Ora Lerman Trust. She has attended residencies at the Golden Foundation, the Studios at Mass MoCA, the Trestle Gallery, the Wassaic Project, Chashama, and the Lower East Side Printshop, among others.
Statement
My artistic practice is rooted in a deeply personal exploration of identity, memory, and the environment. As an immigrant artist, I grapple with the fragmented nature of belonging and the complexities of cultural heritage. This internal struggle finds expression in my painting process, where I pour and cast paint onto unconventional surfaces, then peel and reassemble the resulting layers, mirroring my immigrant experience.
Inspired by my childhood struggle with excoriation disorder, I find catharsis in this repetitive process, transforming anxiety into a unique form of creation. Recent experiences, such as witnessing the impact of climate change while diving with the Sea Women in Jeju, have profoundly influenced my work. I experiment with the behavior of acrylic paint in water, exploring its resilience and fragility, reflecting the delicate balance of the natural world.
Through my art, I seek to connect with my own history, inspire others to appreciate the beauty and fragility of our planet, and foster a deeper understanding of the interconnectedness of human experience and the environment.