about Kate
Kate Bae is an independent curator and immigrant artist who works on site-specific installations and paintings based in Brooklyn and Busan. 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 founded Women’s Cactus for the Arts and has exhibited nationally and internationally, most recently at Jeju Museum of Art and the Brooklyn Museum, NY. She is a grant recipient of the Puffin Foundation, Real Art Award, MVP Chapter Lead Grant from Malikah Gender Justice Institute, and Ora Lerman Trust. She has attended residencies, including the Golden Foundation, the Studios at Mass MoCA, the Trestle Gallery, the Wassaic Project, Chashama, and Lower East Side Printshop Keyholder Residency among others.
Statement
I've long been fascinated by the concept of skin. As a child, I would compulsively pick at the inner corner of my thumb to manage stress, a habit I later learned is called excoriation disorder. Discovering the satisfying act of peeling dried acrylic paint, I realized my neurosis could be channeled into something beautiful. My work explores the medium and language of painting to discuss identity, history, and my cultural background. Instead of traditional brushes, I cast and pour paint, then peel and assemble the pieces like a collage. This process transforms painting, blurring the lines between two-dimensional painting and three-dimensional sculpture. It mirrors my own immigrant experience, feeling neither fully Korean nor American, but yet undeniably both.
Living in New York during COVID-19, I was deeply affected by the rise in anti-Asian hate crimes. This harsh reality challenged my sense of belonging and forced me to confront my identity. Seeking solace, I turned to the ocean. Two years of diving in Jeju with the Sea Women brought me peace, but also revealed the ocean's growing struggles—a reality that was incredibly tangible. I began collaborating with divers and experimenting with acrylic paint in water. Immersing it in seawater and observing its unexpected behavior—reviving after being washed in saltwater and tap water—ignited my curiosity about the interplay between acrylic and water. As I continue to explore the depths of my own identity and the world around me, my art serves as a vessel for self-discovery and healing. Through my work, I hope to inspire others to connect with their own stories and to appreciate the beauty and fragility of our planet.