A Preston-based contemporary painter is preparing to host a solo exhibition in Preston city centre.
Kat Holmes’ exhibition, I Have Loved Them All, runs from Friday 12 to Sunday 14 June at SHOP in Syke Street.
Kat, who is originally from Ribbleton and now lives in Avenham, is an artist with an ADHD background. She came through SEND education in the city before going on to study Fine Art at the University of Lancashire.
These days Kat is part of Preston-based artist collective October Salon and her work is gaining recognition through features in publications including Women in Art, Flux Review and Paint Britain.
Describing her practice, Kat said: “I am a contemporary painter, painting through memory, absence and emotional process. This results in psychologically-driven, atmospheric paintings with expressive surfaces and incidental marks. No piece is ever fully resolved – instead I revisit work over and over again to gain conceptual clarity.”
Kat held her first solo exhibition, Coming Home, at October Salon in January. Later this month, her work will feature in a group exhibition with Auto Amor, guest-curated by Jayne Simpson at The Birley.
She cites Jayne, alongside other local artists Emmie Lund and Ash Hardman, among her influences.
“My practice is also influenced by prominent artists whose work carries emotional intensity and psychological depth, such as Tracey Emin, Amber Rose Wallis, Daisy Parris, Howard Hodgkin, Vanessa Mitter, and Per Kirkeby,” she said.
Read more: Edinburgh Fringe preview festival brings top comedy and spoken-word shows to Preston
Speaking about her upcoming show, Kat said: “I’m excited to be hosting my second solo exhibition. It features a series of never-before-seen paintings and is a continuation of Coming Home.
“It’s great to be exhibiting at SHOP as part of Preston’s growing creative scene with other spaces and collectives like Preston DJ Social, Snapes, and The Ferret.”
With a third solo show planned for October at In a Land gallery in Hebden Bridge, Kat is focused on continuing to grow her practice.
“My ambition is to continue developing coherent bodies of work and building relationships with galleries, collectors, curators, writers,” she said.
To find out more, follow @katholmes.art on Instagram.
