Kathleen
describes her work as contemporary primitive. Born in Los
Angeles and a graduate of California State University at Long
Beach, Kathleen has spent all of her 35 year art career in
California before moving to Whidbey Island, WA in 2005.
Kathleen works in both fiber & paintings, and pieces that
combine the two media. Her finer art paintings may include
willow, paper and metal within the composition, layering paint
to achieve an ancient-looking surface supporting complex symbolism.
This body of work is described by the artist as “contemporary
primitive”.
The art is a bridge for the artist and the viewer to connect
to the past – to a time when the spiritual journey was
the measure of life, when human presence was part of the natural
flow of the universe when our spirit and the spirit of nature
were in balance – striving to find a sense of harmony
that continues to live in our collective unconscious.
For Christmas, 1993, Ms. Otley was invited by the White House
and the Smithsonian to create an ornament for the White House
Christmas Tree. These ornaments were later put on display
in a New York museum and now are a part of the Smithsonian
collection of contemporary art.
Kathleen sells her mixed media art work in shows and festivals
in the Northwest, as well as exhibiting in fine art galleries
nationwide.
She was selected by a national jury of gallery owners, craft
promoters, museum curators and fine art & craft professionals
to include her biography in the publication “Profiles:
Who’s Who in American Crafts”, registered in the
Library of Congress.
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