ABOUT ME

KT is a prolific artist who divides her time between Texas, the Adirondack Mountains, and northern Spain, where her foundry, Alfa Arte, is located. She is presently engaged in crafting a 'prairie dog' sculpture. This endeavor is in response to a commission extended to her studio by the Museum of the Southwest located in Midland, TX, aimed at enriching their permanent collection. The artist's task involves not only creating a visually engaging 'prairie dog' sculpture but also ensuring its educational significance, offering insights into the lives of these creatures. Next year, “Falcon” , a large metal sculpture with a remarkable 14-foot wingspan, completed in 2023 is scheduled for installation at the University of Texas Permian Basin. The resulting artwork aptly captures the vivacity and essence of the university's beloved Falcon mascot.

Katherine ‘KT’ Taylor explores strategies that fuse her themes and concern for elements drawn from the natural world with an awareness of formal sculptural traditions and techniques. Highly textured and rigorously constructed, her work starts in the outdoors and draws on the materiality of the landscape, a vocabulary of forms and means of manipulating textures that she is able to revisit, rethink and reframe in her quest to exploit the interconnectedness of nature and the limitless possibilities of artistic expression. Her practice of swapping tree bark textures for their animal counterparts creates subtle and uncanny mimicry that results in sculptures appearing to be in a state of constant flux: a strange back-and-forth that gives the viewer what the artist calls a sense of visual refreshment.

And in the artist’s own words: “Texture swapping involves the meticulous process of capturing the intricate details of various natural textures and then seamlessly blending them with unexpected counterparts. The juxtaposition of these textures results in a captivating fusion that surprises, intrigues, and provokes contemplation. By taking elements from the environment and swapping them out with one another, I aim to inspire a newfound appreciation for the beauty and complexity of the world around us

From her recent exhibition with the Skoto Gallery, Fall of 2023, her sculpture “Porcustick, 2022”, a remarkable stainless steel creation that marries the texture of magnolia seed pods and budding tree branches. The sculpture invites tactile exploration, provoking sensations that mirror the porcupine’s defense mechanism. Bark Owl, 2023, masterfully plays on the ability of this solitary and nocturnal species to disguise among the trees. By employing the unique texture swapping technique, the very essence of the owl's perch is captured in the sculpture's texture. As you gaze upon the intricately molded form, you'll witness the symbiotic relationship between the bark texture and the bird, discovering the secrets woven into their visual harmony, much like a hidden 'Easter egg' waiting to be uncovered. KT’s artistry lies in her careful selection of textures, resulting in a sensory invasion that challenges preconceived notions of both art and nature.

Texture Swapping Method

  • Collect Textures

    The first step is to visit the installation site to find the right textures for the sculpture. The mold making material used during this process is non-toxic and will leave no trace.

  • Create Model

    The second step uses the silicon molds from the site visit to re-create the textures in wax. The different textures will then be placed on a polystyrene base.

  • Cast Sculpture

    The final step is to cast the sculpture into metal using the lost wax casting method. The metal sculpture will then be chased, polished and patinated.