Curious

Observant

Determined

American born artist Kate Eggleston-Wirtz was raised in the suburbs of Chicago. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in illustration from Northern Illinois University in 1984 and since then has worked as an art director, graphic designer, illustrator, cartoonist, installation artist, fine artist and workshop facilitator. Her works have been internationally exhibited along with being in film and television as well as in the 1996 Summer Olympics. The artist enjoys working in a variety of media and styles, however all of her pieces typically interconnect in movement, symbolism, word/object association and playfulness. Over the past few years her 3-d assemblages have been a primary focus incorporating her love of history and narrative.

She has been interested in using objects since an early age and remembers building her first 3-d sculpture out of rusty metal found along the railroad tracks at age 13.These conceptual works have often been referred to as visual poetry - marrying various symbolic two and three-dimensional materials to tell stories. Commissioned by Kirklees Council (Tolson Museum), National Museums Liverpool and Salford Museum, Kate has told other people’s stories through work created in response to interviews and archival research. Her 3-d work prompted her to incorporate her own poetry that has developed into an integral part of her work.

Using the most appropriate materials to get a job done, each of Kate's pieces is a unique, playful and sometimes bizarre observation of life. She often combines unrelated people, animals and objects in juxtaposition with a common narrative thread. This philosophy is important to the artist since she herself, has been placed in juxtaposition adjusting and fitting into different cultural environments after moving from Chicago to Seattle and then on to the north west of England where she lives today.

QUALIFICATIONS
Bachelor of Fine Arts in Illustration Northern Illinois University 1984

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2007
“When the City Speaks:The City is a Stage”, South Bohemia Gallery Liverpool, England
“Society of Equestrian Artists” , Mall Galleries, London, England
Annual Exhibition Society for Art of Imagination,Mall Galleries London, England
“c.art.ed in Ansdell”, WH Darbyshire & Sons, Ansdell, England

2006
“Open Exhibition”, Grundy Art Gallery, Blackpool, England
‘Postcard Show”, Surface Gallery, Nottingham,England
“Post It”, Atkinson Art Gallery, Southport, England
“Society of Equestrian Artists”, Mall Galleries, London, England
“Four Contemporary Artists”, Artisan Gallery, Kirkham, England
“Magical Lakes and Forests”, Society for Art of Imagination, Spain, Italy and Germany
“What Would You Do If”, Salford Museum and Art Gallery, Salford, England
“Four Corners”, NML/Capital of Culture, Liverpool, England
“Absolutely Animal”, Samlesbury Hall, Samlesbury, England
“Absolutely Animal”, Hilton Hotell, St Helens, England

2005
“FRED”, Maryport Butcher, Cumbria, England
“The Inner Eye”, Society for Art of Imagination, Spain, Italy and Germany
“Absolutely Animal”, Samlesbury Hall, Samlesbury, England
“Festival of Fantasy and Imagination”, Lauderdale House, London, England
“Myth and Magic”, Obsidian Gallery, Stoke Mandeville, England
“Science Week”, Environment Centre, Lancaster, England
“Literary Statements”, South Hill Park Arts Centre, Bracknell, England

2004
“Water” Lauderdale House London, England
“Contemporary Art” Sides Art and Frames Lytham, England
“Ardfern and Craobh Arts Fest” Wavyline Gallery Ardfern, Scotland
“Planes, Trains and Automobiles” Obsidian Gallery Stoke Mandeville, England
“All Creatures Great and Small” Obsidian Gallery Stoke Mandeville, England

2003
“Society for Art of Imagination”, The Gallery in Cork Street, London, England
Toured Kirkcudbright, Scotland, NYC and Miami
“Paintings in Hospitals”, Sheridan Russell Gallery, London, England

“All the World’s a Stage”, Obsidian Gallery, Stoke Mandeville, England

“Agnew Street Artists”, Lytham Heritage Centre, Lytham, England
“Instinct”, Artlounge, Lytham, England

2000
Beatrice Royal Contemporary Art & Craft Gallery, Eastleigh, England

1999
Number Nine Gallery, Birmingham, England
Samlesbury Hall, Samlesbury, England

1998
Kent Police Department USA National Touring Exhibition

1996
8th Annual 3-Dimensional Art Directors and Illustrators Awards Show NYC

1995
7th Annual 3-Dimensional Art Directors and Illustrators Awards Show, NYC, Singapore

1994
Heart to Art Gallery, Seattle, WA USA
Art Not Terminal Gallery, Seattle, WA USA

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2004 “Assemblage and Symbolism”, The Dukes Theatre, Lancaster, England
1996 Gateway Athletic Club, Seattle WA
The Western Vine Café, Seattle WA
1995 Fenix Underground, Seattle WA
1994 Fenix Underground, Seattle WA
Weathered Wall, Seattle WA
1993 Newmark Building, Seattle WA
Heart to Art Gallery, Seattle WA
1990 Blue Moon Theatre, Chicago

CLIENTS have included:

Cannock Chase Council
Kirklees Council
Wyre Borough Council
King Edward VII Queen Mary School
Beardwood School
PRESCAP
Green Close Studios
Sea Kayaker Magazine
Canoe Magazine
Washington Magazine
Horse Illustrated
National Law Journal
ASPCA
Jamison Bell Advertising
Cohn & Wolfe
American Lung Association
3-Track Mind
Billy Moon Band
Island Time Steel Drum Band

Georgia – film
King 5 Television

RESIDENCIES

2004 5 days ‘Beside the Seaside’ Dovercourt Beach Huts, Essex
One of ten artists to re-design the exterior of a beach hut for a public art project involving local school children. The temporary artwork remained throughout the summer season. My hut was covered in recycled pink shoes, entitled: A Walk on the Beach.

2001 4 weeks Condrieu, France
One of four artists to represent Lancashire in an international exchange programme between the Parc du Pilat and The Forest of Bowland – Lancashire England. Created a six foot sculpture out
of an old boat and symbolic objects donated by the local community.

COLLECTIONS

Paintings in Hospitls, UK Parc du Pilat France Hanes Corporation, USA
Seattle Drum School, USA Various private collections

AWARDS

7th Annual 3-Dimensional Art Directors and Illustrators Awards Show, NYC and Singapore
8th Annual 3-Dimensional Art Directors and Illustrators Awards Show, NYC
‘Water’ Society for Art of Imagination, London

MEMBERSHIPS

Society for Art of Imagination
Association of Illustrators
Society of Authors
Poetry Society
Society of Equestrian Artists