Interview with Kat Kleinman
Kat Kleinman is a photo collage artist from the Sacramento, California area. She began her career as an artist in 2016, after she retired as a psychotherapist, working with homeless people for 20 years. Her past work is referenced because it does inform her current work with a focus on positivity and making people feel better, if only for a moment!
Kat specializes in collages, because the individual flowers, leaves or succulents used will combine to create a new and cohesive form, reflective of the healing process. She takes her own photographs, with the only exception being the occasional gift of a flower photo from a personal friend. It is important to Kat that she use her own photography, because it separates the integrity of her work from those who use more impersonal internet downloads as a source. Each image is hand cut, a process she calls meditative, and a single collage may require dozens of photos.
Kat is enthusiastic about the potential for color to positively influence emotion and human behavior. She has participated in group exhibitions in Tokyo, Japan , Barcelona, Spain, and Hong Kong. Her work can be seen in books and magazines. She received the Power of Creativity award from Contemporary Art Curator Magazine in 2021.
Can you tell us about the moment you decided to pursue a career as an artist?
My decision to pursue an art career came shortly after I retired from the work I had loved. I needed to process complex emotions, and I began experimenting with floral photography as a means to do so.
What kind of an artist do you ultimately see yourself?
I see myself as a contemporary photo collage artist who has developed a specific technique based on my own experimentation with color and placement.
What do you want your art to convey to those who see it? What is the meaning or creative motivation behind your work?
The creative motivation behind my artwork is a desire to make people feel better, even for a moment, using the power of color to impact mood.
Can you tell us about the process you use to create your works? What is your typical workday routine?
The initial step in creating a photo collage is photography (I use an iPhone 12 Pro Max). I began with flowers but through natural development, I now include photos of beautiful leaves and exceptional succulents. Each photo is printed and hand cut. I choose a theme for my work, with complimentary colors and precise placement, to create beautifully unique photo collages.
Where do you find inspiration? What motivates you to create?
I find inspiration in the vibrancy of living flowers, leaves and succulents, even in my own neighbourhood! I also seek inspiration through the artwork of others, in beautiful gardens, or in nurseries filled with new life.
What has been your most outstanding achievement to date?
I am proud of the international exhibitions I have participated in, but I was especially excited to win the Power of Creativity International Art Prize given by Contemporary Art Curator Magazine in 2021.
What are your ultimate career goals?
My ultimate goal is to be recognized for the type of photo collages I do, using the technique of taking my own photos and hand cutting flowers, leaves or succulents with perfect placement.
What are you working on now, and what can we expect from you soon?
I am starting a new photo collage using my recent photos of interesting succulents. I’m looking forward to revealing the new opportunities I have lined up for new gallery books, and an exhibition in Madrid in early 2023.
