Katherine Akey

Teaches at IA&A at Hillyer

Akey is primarily influenced by her profound love of reading, from childhood fantasies to the non-fiction she consumes on her commute. These stories bleed into her dreams and fuel the romantic, otherworldly aspects of her art, while her scientific background and penchant for academic reading bring a grounded, thoughtful tone. Themes of polar exploration, World War I, and early aviation figure prominently in her work.

Her recent work stems from a trip to the top of the world with the Arctic Circle Residency program in the fall of 2015. Weaving the northern landscapes of legend and the Golden Age of Exploration with the realities of Arctic conservation projects, Akey brings glory to the women she found in Svalbard devoting their lives to protecting the land. The Arctic Smiles Now is on view at Hillyer Art Space from November 3 – December 17, 2017.