BIOGRAPHY

Kate Gilmore received her MFA from the School of Visual Arts. Her work has been shown at the Greater New York 2005 show at PS 1/MoMA, White Columns, Art in General, Brooklyn Museum of Art, Bronx Museum of Art, and Exit Art, all in New York City. She has been a recipient of New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship, LMCC/Manhattan Community Arts Grant, Bronx Museum Artists-In-the-Marketplace Program, and Artists Space’s Independent Project Grant. Her work has been reviewed in The New York Times, Artforum, Art In America, and Village Voice. Born in Washington D.C.; she lives in New York City.

’

With Open Arms, 2005 Video Still

INTERVIEW

Name: Kate Gilmore
Where are you from: Washington, DC
Where do you live/work: New York, NY

How do you normally come up with an idea or project for your artwork? Can you run us briefly through your thought process and work process?

Usually I come up with an idea or project in response to specific experiences in my life– someone pissed me off; the world is falling apart; I am feeling frustrated about this or that...  the things that I find so difficult to deal with in normal "functional" life become the sources of great inspiration in my studio.

Is there any recurrent motif that appears in your works? What is it and why? 

Anger, frustration, pain, struggle, conflict, failure, insecurity...  everyday life stuff. 

Who or what influences and inspires you?

My life influences me – my reactions to the world, to the people I come in contact with – daily existence.  Intense emotional experiences inspire me – usually emotions that we are taught to repress. 

What is your solution to artist’s or writer’s block?

My solution to artist's block is to force myself to sit in my studio until I come up with an idea.  I sometimes can stare at a blank wall for a couple of weeks.  Occasionally I will paint it a different color to have something else to look at.  Eventually, I come up with a project and think it is brilliant  (for about 15 minutes)...