Bio/CV
Katherine Curci is an award-winning contemporary artist who specializes in photo-realistic charcoal drawings. She was born on December 12th, 1992 in Toronto and raised in Aurora, Ontario. She completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Drawing and Painting at Ontario College of Art and Design University in 2014 and received a Certificate of Advanced Visual Studies at OCAD's Self-Directed Studio Program in Florence, Italy. She furthered her education in 2017 when she attended CMU in Toronto for SPFX Makeup Art and Design in TV & Film. Due to COVID, her career in prosthetics and make-up was short-lived but ultimately gave her the opportunity to revisit her artistic practice. What began as a hobby to pass time during lockdown, has now become a professional endeavour. Since becoming a full-time artist in 2021, she has exhibited her work in numerous galleries both locally and internationally.
Through the study of land, sea, and sky, Katherine creates photo-realistic charcoal drawings that explore the consuming contrast between light and shadow. Using a combination of deep velvety blacks and shimmering highlights, she represents the contrast of life itself. These seemingly opposing elements coexist in Katherine’s work to create moments of stillness, which become emotional representations of the constant ebb and flow of nature mirroring our human experience. During the COVID pandemic, the world was heavily impacted by fear and uncertainty and this inspired Katherine to create drawings that would offer viewers a moment of calm and reflection to connect to nature and also to escape from the overwhelmingness of our day to day lives. Her biggest inspiration comes from nature as she relies on it not only for references, but also as a much needed healing tool.
Education
2017-2018
College of Makeup Art and Design (Special Effects Makeup Art), Toronto
2010-2014
Ontario College of Art and Design University, BFA (Drawing and Painting), Toronto
2012-2013
Ontario College of Art and Design University, Self-Directed Program, Florence, Italy
Upcoming Exhibitions
Artist Project, Better Living Centre, April 11th to April 14th (Toronto) Opening party on Thursday, April 11th 6 - 10pm - Booth 401
Solo Exhibitions
Light, Time & Tides, December 2023 Red Head Gallery (Toronto)
Group Exhibitions
Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, July 2023 (Toronto) The Artist Project, April 2023 (Toronto) Get Noticed, Dec 2022, Red Head Gallery (Toronto) Worlds Away, September 2022, Arta Gallery (Toronto) Gladstone House, August 2022 - August 2023 - Room 206 (Toronto) Outdoor Art Fair, July 2022 (Toronto) The Artist Project, April 2022 (Toronto)
Sprung, April 2022, Susan Eley Fine Art (New York City)
White Out, December 2021, Susan Eley Fine Art (New York City)
This Land, February 2021, Susan Eley Fine Art (Hudson, New York) Saugerties Artisan Market, December 2020, Susan Eley Fine Art (Saugerties, New York) 40 Under Forty, October 2020, Joseph D. Carrier Art Gallery (Columbus Centre, Toronto)
Bare Essentials, August 2020, Blitz Gallery (Toronto)
OCADU Grad Ex, May 2014, The Great Hall (Toronto)
OCADU Figure Show February 2014, The Great Hall (Toronto)
Neophilia, October 2013, The Great Hall (Toronto)
Neophilia, April 2013, OCAD University Studio (Florence, Italy)
Sotopòrtego, March 2013, Libreria IBS (Florence, Italy)
Awards
DeSerres Artist Prize Winner for Works on Paper, Artist Project, April 2024 (Toronto)
Inaugural recipient of the Gladstone House Award - Toronto Outdoor Art Fair, July 2022 (Toronto)