For artist Katie Kmet, the canvas is not just a space for art, but a platform for advocacy and reflection.
Acrylic painting has been her preferred medium since 2004, a love that prompted her to enroll in the visual arts program at Camosun College in Victoria.
After relocating to Victoria, Kmet diverged from her artistic passions. A decade passed, and with a new addition to her family, she found her muse once more, crediting the Bulkley Valley art community as a catalyst for her rejuvenation.
Today, Kmet’s canvases come alive with expressive, abstracted landscapes. The swift-drying nature of acrylic paints complements her tendency to work quickly, particularly when she’s struck by inspiration. But beyond the brushstrokes, the central themes of compassion, lighting, playful colour, and the great outdoors underpin her work.
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For Kmet, success isn’t gauged by accolades or sales, but by the moments when a viewer is motivated to pause, ponder, and perhaps see the world a little differently.
Kmet is particularly passionate about using her art as a vehicle for environmental awareness.
“I feel creating art to raise awareness of our natural resources is immensely powerful,” she said. “I’m thrilled to contribute a piece [to the Skeena Salmon Arts Show] that I hope inspires and reminds us of what we need to preserve.”
Kmet’s artwork not only serves as a tribute to the natural beauty surrounding us but also as a reminder of the artist’s journey and the ever-evolving relationship between art and the environment.
Kmet’s work was on display at the Skeena Salmon Arts Show first at the Terrace Art Gallery and now in Kitimat at the Kitimat Museum & Archives from Sept. 8 to Oct. 7. It then moves to the Smithers Art Gallery from Oct. 10 to Nov. 11.
Katie Kmet is one of a group of 2023 Skeena Salmon Arts Show artists being featured each week.