Kate’s Story

Kate Piekutowski is an Australian contemporary printmaker and textile designer specializing in hand-painted, multi-layered etchings. As a first-generation child of Polish migrants, Piekutowski is fascinated by the concept of living between worlds; simultaneously connected and disconnected to place. Her art and designs explore her Polish ancestry and culture in the context of yearning for a sense of home in the Australian setting.

Over the last ten years, Piekutowski has travelled the world, researching cultural identity and what it means to belong within a community. By taking up artist residencies in Portugal, Italy, Greece, Spain, India, Tasmania and New Zealand, Piekutowski has developed and synthesised her research and ideas which she artistically interprets through printmaking. The creation of her research findings has inspired Piekutowski to showcase her work in galleries across Australia as well as New York City, Italy, Hong Kong and Singapore. Piekutowski has been a finalist for a number of art prizes including the Du Rietz Art Award (QLD), Bundaberg Art Prize (QLD), She Art Prize (VIC), Art Lovers Art Prize (AUS), Rotary Art Prize (TAS) as well as the winner of the Kingborough Art Prize in Tasmania in 2013. Having honed her skills and mastering the techniques of metal etched printmaking, she aims to inspire others to take up the ancient profession by teaching classes, conducting workshops and lecturing aspiring printmakers.

Education

Kate Piekutowski finished her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in 2011 from the University of Tasmania, majoring in Printmaking. She later completed her Masters of Fine Arts in 2013, followed by a Diploma of Jewellery Design in 2014. Themes of identity from her undergraduate studies have become an overarching concept within her etchings. Her Masters work also explored family history, post-war anxiety, epigenetics and her Great Grandmother, Helena. She has continued to utilize her printmaking and jewellery design skills in her arts practice. Piekutowski works with a number of metals including aluminium, steel, zinc, copper and sterling silver in both their two-dimensional and three-dimensional forms. She considers metal to be a romantic material to work with, using the ‘etched’ surface to create personal histories and narratives.

The Inspiration Behind the Work

Kate Piekutowski has refined her printmaking practice through experimentation and pushing the boundaries of traditional intaglio. The use of layering is a fundamental part of her process incorporating gold leaf, pigment inks, acrylic paint, watercolours, gouache, spray paint and Japanese ink. Layers have become a metaphor, often relating to history albeit personal, romanticised, factual or memories. Symbolism and motifs are both prominent and subtle as Piekutowski uses influences from life, family, relationships and childhood. Sewing machines, vintage suitcases, cameras and shoes are often symbolic metaphors for travelling, time, memories. Vessels such as a vase, wine glass, watering can and tea pot have become an expression of fertility and motherhood. References to childhood stories such as The Wizard of Oz, Chronicles of Narnia and Alice in Wonderland are subtly entwined throughout Piekutowski’s work, enhancing narratives based around returning home, journeys and adventures.

Formative inspirations, such as a sense of home and connection with Poland continue to feature in Piekutowski’s etchings as she incorporates her iconic use of red and European buildings. Gothic, Baroque and religious architecture are inspired by travels and her Great Grandfather who was a Polish architect in early 20th century. Australian native flowers and plants appear in Piekutowski’s more recent work, symbolising growth in her personal strength of character and connection to place.

Learn a little more

+ Education

2010-2011 Diploma of Fine Arts, School of Art, University of Tasmania, Hobart
2009- 2011 Bachelor of Fine Arts, School of Art, University of Tasmania, Hobart
2012-2013 Masters of Fine Arts in Printmaking, School of Art, University of Tasmania
2014 Diploma of Visual Arts, Jewellery, TAFE Tasmania

+ Group Exhibitions

2011-05 Entrepot Gallery, Hunter Street TAS- Exhibition Newsprint
2011-08 Inka Gallery, Salamanca TAS- Gallery Member
2011-09 The Long Gallery, Salamanca TAS- A collaborative exhibition
2011- 12 The Stable Gallery, Moonah TAS- Mini print and painting exhibition
2011 -12 Inka Gallery, Salamanca TAS- Blank canvas exhibition
2012-02 Inka Gallery, Salamanca TAS- Blue
2012-05 Inka Gallery, Salamanca TAS - May Sale Exhibition
2013-04 Mixed Borders & Hybrid Identities, Riccione ITALY
2013-05 Kingborough Art Prize and Exhibition Group Show
2013-11 Fawn Gallery, group exhibition
2013-12 The Long Gallery, Images of Tasmania, Group exhibition
2013-2012 Colville Gallery, Group Exhibition
2014- 03 The Long Gallery, Running with Scissors, Group Exhibition
2014-11 Mini Print Exhibition, Sidespace Gallery, Group exhibition
2014- 12 Colville Gallery, Group Exhibition
2014-12 UTAS Art School, Group Exhibition of Jewellery
2014-12 Images of Tasmania, Group Exhibition, Sidespace and Long Gallery, Salamanca
2015-06 Gather ye rosebuds, Sidespace Gallery, Hobart, TAS, Solo exhibition
2015-10 Iron Pot Bay group exhibition, East Coast, Tasmania
2015-11 Mini Print Exhibition, Sidespace gallery, Salamanca
2015-12 Images of Tasmania, Long Gallery, Salamanca
2016-06 Members Group Show, Hunter Island Press, Rosny Barn, Hobart
2016-11 Mini Print Exhibition, Sidespace Gallery, Salamanca Art Centre, Hobart
2017-01 Running with Scissors, Sidespace Gallery, Salamanca, TAS
2017-05 Curated HIP exhibition, Unique State, MAC, Hobart, TAS
2017-07 Curated HIP exhibition, Rosny School House Gallery, Rosny, TAS
2017-09 Curated Exhibition, Sydney, NSW
2017-11 Curated HIP exhibition, Mini Print, Sidespace Gallery, Salamanca, TAS
2017-09 Group Exhibition, Manyung Gallery, Malvern, VIC
2018-09 Group Exhibition, Pop-up Gallery, Art-to-Art, VIC
2018-11 Curated HIP exhibition, Mini Print, Sidespace Gallery, Salamanca, TAS
2019-10 Pop up exhibition, Art to Art, Melbourne, VIC
2020-09 Group Exhibition, 'Getting back to Together' Impress Printmaker Gallery Studio, QLD
2020-10 Group Exhibition, Revival Art Design Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
2021-06 Group Exhibition, Between Places, Impress Gallery, QLD

+ Art Fairs

2017-11 Singapore International Art Fair, Represented by Manyung Gallery
2018-05 Hong Kong International Art Fair, Represented by Manyung Gallery
2019-11 Singapore International Art Fair, Represented by Manyung Gallery

+ Prizes

2013 - Finalist, SHE Competition, Dandenong and Walker St Gallery, VIC
2013 - 1st Prize, Best of Show, Kingborough Art Prize and Exhibition, TAS
2014 - Finalist, Rotary Art Prize, TAS
2015 - Finalist, Rotary Art Prize, TAS
2016 - Finalist, Rotary Art Prize, TAS
2019 - Finalist, Art Lovers Art Prize, QLD
2019 - Participant, Australian Print Triennale, La Trobe University, VIC
2021 - Finalist, Art Lovers Art Prize, QLD
2021 – Finalist, Blue Mountains Art Prize, NSW
2021 - Finalist, Gympie Regional Gallery Art Prize, QLD
2021 - Finalist, Bundaberg Regional Art Prize, QLD

+ Gallery Representations

Revival Gallery, Brisbane, QLD
Manly Harbor Gallery, Manly, QLD
Hearts and Minds Gallery, Noosa, QLD
Milk Factory Gallery, Bowral, NSW
Strathnairn Gallery, Canberra, ACT
Manyung Gallery, Melbourne, VIC
Clayfire Gallery, Daylesford, VIC
Regent Gallery and Framer, Preston, VIC
Gallery Pejean, Launceston, TAS
Henry Jones Art Hotel, Hobart, TAS

+ Solo Exhibitions

2011-08 Entrepot Gallery, Salamanca TAS - Oh Nostalgia, how did you find me?
2012-02 Rebecca Roth Gallery, Salamanca TAS - A European Nostalgia
2012-03 Preachers, Salamanca TAS- Works by Kate Piekutowski
2012-04 Goulburn Street Gallery, West Hobart TAS – Birdsong
2012-08 Inka Gallery, Salamanca TAS- The Depiction of a Romantic, Solo Exhibition
2012-12 Rebecca Roth Gallery, Salamanca TAS- Solo Exhibition of prints
2013-01 Sidespace Gallery, Salamanca TAS- Collaborative Exhibition of works with Chris Kurrish and Steph Parkyn
2013-06 Gallery Pejean, Launceston TAS- Solo Exhibition of Prints
2013-12 Agora Gallery, New York City- Group show
2013-12 Brunswick Street Gallery, Melbourne, Solo Exhibition of Prints
2014-06 Colville Gallery, Hobart, TAS- Solo Exhibition
2014-11 Gallery Pejean, Launceston, TAS- Solo Exhibition
2015-04 The Search for the Lily of the Valley, Melbourne, FAWN Gallery, Solo exhibition
2015-09, Solo Exhibition,Lightness of Being, Gallery Pejean, Launceston
2016 Solo Exhibition, Colville Gallery
2016-11 Solo Exhibition, Lightness of Being, Gallery Pejean, Launceston
2017-08 Solo Exhibition, Gallery Pejean, Launceston, TAS
2017-09 Solo Exhibition, Colville Gallery, Hobart, TAS
2018-04 Solo Exhibition, Between Worlds, Manyung Gallery, VIC
2018-07 Solo Exhibition, Concrete Jungle, Daddy Bar, Brunswick, VIC
2018-10 Solo Exhibition, Tiffany Jones Art Consultant, Buderim, QLD
2018-11 Solo Exhibition, a/tered states, Colville Gallery, Salamanca, TAS
2019-09 Pop Up Exhibition, The Make It Collective, Melbourne
2019-10 Solo Exhibition, Between Cities, Gallery Pejean, Tasmania
2020-11 Solo Exhibition, The Traveller, Milk Factory Gallery, Bowral, NSW*** 2021-08 Solo Exhibition, MEMORIES REIMAGINED, Empire Revival, QLD**