"I have been interested in painting people for as long as I can remember. I am fascinated by expressions, the dynamism of the figure, and the undertones of skin."
Kate Hansen graduated from the University of Regina in 2001 with a BFA in fine arts, focusing on painting. Her grad show was at the Mackenzie Art Gallery in Regina, and it was a series of figurative oil paintings. She lived, painted and exhibited in Crowsnest Pass in the rocky mountains of Alberta. In 2007 she started the "Madonna and Child" project, inspired by the birth of her son. In 2008 she moved to Courtenay on Vancouver Island in BC, and gave birth to her daughter shortly thereafter. Her work has been exhibited in Chicago, Toronto, and at home in Courtenay BC. Hansen continues to live and work in Courtenay with her children.
Curriculum Vitae
Exhibitions
June 2011
Solo exhibition of Madonna and Child Project, complete with birth
stories, displayed at the Muir Gallery in Courtenay BC. June 3- 25, 2011.
The opening reception June 3rd, 7:00- 9:00pm.
January 2011
I had a solo exhibition of The Madonna and Child Project at the Fifth Parallel Gallery at the University of Regina. The show ran from December 28th until January 14th, 2011.
November 2010
My artwork titled 'Gladys and Elizabeth' was accepted for the 'Mothers' group exhibition at the Woman Made Gallery, in Chicago, Illinois. The show ran from November 5 to December 23, 2010.
September 2010
The Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists hosted their national exhibition at the Mount Royal University Art Gallery. My piece “Ailen and Jet Jazz” won for "Most Innovative Portrait." The show runs from September 21 until October 30.
August 2010
I participated in a group exhibition at the 5th Parallel Gallery at the University of Regina. The show was called “The Reading Room,” and it involved artwork which related to books or reading in various ways. My entry was three of my Madonna and Child portraits along with their corresponding birth stories.
June 2010
I exhibited with two other artist/mothers, Krisztina Wood and Kari Lehr in a show called "The Art of Motherhood." It was a group show on the subject of motherhood, the joy as well as the challenges. I exhibited seven of my Madonna and Child Project portraits and birth stories. It opened on May 29th, and ran until June 29th at the Crowsnest Pass Public Art Gallery in Frank, AB.
October 2009
I participated in the Comox Valley Art Gallery 35th Anniversary Show and Sale. I entered three works, of which I sold one. I displayed two oil paintings, "Losing Lily 2," and "Craving You 2," and a conte drawing titled "Bathtime."
September 2008
I participated in a group show with several other women artists titled "Real Naked Women" at the Refinery in Saskatoon SK. I displayed two figurative, "Losing Lily 2" and "Craving You 2" and a self portrait titled "How Shall I Love Thee."
August 2008
I was accepted into the Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists Annual Show, which was held at the Alliance Francaise Gallery in Calgary, AB. I exhibited a conte drawing called "Madonna and Child- Jessica and Miles." The show ran from August 5th until August 29th, and featured many prestigious portrait artists from across Canada.
July 2008
I was a part of a group show at the Crowsnest Pass Public Art Gallery, in Crowsnest Pass, AB. The show was titled "It's Not Why but How" and featured many local artists from the area. I contributed one of my Madonna and Child series titled: "Kate and Erik." It ran from July 12th until September 8th.
March 2008
I participated in a group show at the Art Center Gallery of Clatsop Community College in Astoria Oregon. The exhibition was titled "Au Naturel, the Nude in the 21st Century." My contribution was an oil painting titled "Losing Lily 2" The show ran from March 18th until May 15th.
March 2008
A conte crayon drawing of my son in the bath titled "Bath Time" was accepted to the Leighton Arts Centre Gallery at an international juried figurative art show titled "Being Human." It ran from March 15th to April 26th, 2008. The Leighton Centre Gallery is just south of Calgary, AB.
January 2008
I was accepted into the Rhonda Schaller Studio based out of New York City for the exhibition titled: "Who Wants to be a Feminist?" in the online projects room, Gallery 1. The painting is titled "Craving You 2."
Awards and Special Recognition
September 2010
I won for "Most Innovative Portrait" at the Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists National exhibition.
December 2007
I won "Best in Show" for my work "Madonna and Child- Kate and Erik" in an online gallery called Emerging Artists Group.
Education
March 2001
I graduated with a BFA, focusing on oil painting, from the University of Regina. My Graduation Show was at the Mackenzie Art Gallery in Regina. The show was called "Leibostad," and it focused on the dichotomy of love and death through eight figurative oil paintings.
Press
The Toronto Star published an article on April 13th, 2010, concerning the removal of my breastfeeding artwork from Facebook.
June 2011
Solo exhibition of Madonna and Child Project, complete with birth
stories, displayed at the Muir Gallery in Courtenay BC. June 3- 25, 2011.
The opening reception June 3rd, 7:00- 9:00pm.
January 2011
I had a solo exhibition of The Madonna and Child Project at the Fifth Parallel Gallery at the University of Regina. The show ran from December 28th until January 14th, 2011.
November 2010
My artwork titled 'Gladys and Elizabeth' was accepted for the 'Mothers' group exhibition at the Woman Made Gallery, in Chicago, Illinois. The show ran from November 5 to December 23, 2010.
September 2010
The Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists hosted their national exhibition at the Mount Royal University Art Gallery. My piece “Ailen and Jet Jazz” won for "Most Innovative Portrait." The show runs from September 21 until October 30.
August 2010
I participated in a group exhibition at the 5th Parallel Gallery at the University of Regina. The show was called “The Reading Room,” and it involved artwork which related to books or reading in various ways. My entry was three of my Madonna and Child portraits along with their corresponding birth stories.
June 2010
I exhibited with two other artist/mothers, Krisztina Wood and Kari Lehr in a show called "The Art of Motherhood." It was a group show on the subject of motherhood, the joy as well as the challenges. I exhibited seven of my Madonna and Child Project portraits and birth stories. It opened on May 29th, and ran until June 29th at the Crowsnest Pass Public Art Gallery in Frank, AB.
October 2009
I participated in the Comox Valley Art Gallery 35th Anniversary Show and Sale. I entered three works, of which I sold one. I displayed two oil paintings, "Losing Lily 2," and "Craving You 2," and a conte drawing titled "Bathtime."
September 2008
I participated in a group show with several other women artists titled "Real Naked Women" at the Refinery in Saskatoon SK. I displayed two figurative, "Losing Lily 2" and "Craving You 2" and a self portrait titled "How Shall I Love Thee."
August 2008
I was accepted into the Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists Annual Show, which was held at the Alliance Francaise Gallery in Calgary, AB. I exhibited a conte drawing called "Madonna and Child- Jessica and Miles." The show ran from August 5th until August 29th, and featured many prestigious portrait artists from across Canada.
July 2008
I was a part of a group show at the Crowsnest Pass Public Art Gallery, in Crowsnest Pass, AB. The show was titled "It's Not Why but How" and featured many local artists from the area. I contributed one of my Madonna and Child series titled: "Kate and Erik." It ran from July 12th until September 8th.
March 2008
I participated in a group show at the Art Center Gallery of Clatsop Community College in Astoria Oregon. The exhibition was titled "Au Naturel, the Nude in the 21st Century." My contribution was an oil painting titled "Losing Lily 2" The show ran from March 18th until May 15th.
March 2008
A conte crayon drawing of my son in the bath titled "Bath Time" was accepted to the Leighton Arts Centre Gallery at an international juried figurative art show titled "Being Human." It ran from March 15th to April 26th, 2008. The Leighton Centre Gallery is just south of Calgary, AB.
January 2008
I was accepted into the Rhonda Schaller Studio based out of New York City for the exhibition titled: "Who Wants to be a Feminist?" in the online projects room, Gallery 1. The painting is titled "Craving You 2."
Awards and Special Recognition
September 2010
I won for "Most Innovative Portrait" at the Canadian Institute of Portrait Artists National exhibition.
December 2007
I won "Best in Show" for my work "Madonna and Child- Kate and Erik" in an online gallery called Emerging Artists Group.
Education
March 2001
I graduated with a BFA, focusing on oil painting, from the University of Regina. My Graduation Show was at the Mackenzie Art Gallery in Regina. The show was called "Leibostad," and it focused on the dichotomy of love and death through eight figurative oil paintings.
Press
The Toronto Star published an article on April 13th, 2010, concerning the removal of my breastfeeding artwork from Facebook.