Artist’s Statement
I create simple and theatrical structures that generate interplay between the effect of gravity, tension and movement, using cloth and other readily available building materials. Cloth is a compelling material to me because of its capability to be strong, supple and fluid.I use fabric because of these physical properties, but also because of its optical qualities—its opacity and color. In one way, I think of my work being like a physical painting or drawing. Straight lines are rendered in space with tension and weight on a colored strap. Brushlike gestures are evidenced through large gathered and wrinkled swaths. Each piece is structured as choreography between material and gravity, built to perform in its own particular way, but an element of randomness is always at play. Cloth has the ability to be both vague and suggestive, because it can really only partially conceal what it is covering. Just a few materials—a couple of 2 x 4’s, a strap, and a curtain of fabric, depending on how they are positioned, can convey vulgarity, elegance or solemnity. My work is about mystery and obscurity—what is not fully seen, and transparency—what is physically obvious.
Resume
Born 1973 in Baytown, Texas
Currently lives and works in Houston, Texas
Represented by CTRL Gallery, Houston, Texas
Education
1999 MFA, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
1995 BFA, University of Mary Hardin-Baylor, Belton, Texas
Solo Exhibitions
2008
Katy Heinlein, CTRL Gallery, Houston, Texas
Unknown Pleasures, Women and Their Work, Austin, Texas
2005
Head Over Heels, Commerce Street Artists Warehouse, Houston, Texas
2001
If and When, Lawndale Art Center (Main Gallery), Houston, Texas
When Push Comes to Shove, Cultural Activities Center, Temple, Texas
1999
Situation, Studio Gallery, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Group Exhibitions
2010
P’s and Q’s, (Curated by Shannon Stratton and Jeff Ward), Hyde Park Art Center, Chicago, Illinois
2009
John Sparagana, Sasha Pierce and Katy Heinlein, CTRL Gallery, Houston, Texas
Hasta La Basura Se Separa (Art Crush), (Curated by Salvador Castillo, Michael A. Garcia and Hector Hernandez), Box 13 Artspace, Houston, Texas
2008
$timulus, DiverseWorks Art Space, Curated by Diane Barber, Houston, Texas
Architecture of Perception, (Curated by Elaine Bradford) Box 13 Art Space, Houston, Texas
Hasta La Basura Se Separa (Art Crush), (Curated by Salvador Castillo, Michael A. Garcia and Hector Hernandez), Antigua Aduana, Nuevo Laredo, Mexico
2006
P’s and Q’s, Glassell School of Art, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
The Real Art World, DiverseWorks Art Space, Houston, Texas
2005
Trickle Down, (Curated by Robbie Austin) Firehouse Center for the Arts,Burlington, Vermont
2004
In Situ: New Work for Allen’s Landing, Houston, Texas
Twang: Contemporary Sculpture From Texas, (Curated by C. Sean Horton), Art Museum of Southeast Texas, Beaumont, Texas, McKinney Art Center, Dallas, Texas
Selective Memory, (Curated by Chris Ballou), The Bower Art Space, San Antonio, Texas
2003
Red, Artscan/Rudolf Projects, Houston, Texas
Assistance League of Houston Celebrates Texas Art, Williams Tower, Houston, Texas
2002
Blip (Curated by Sharon Engelstein and Aaron Parazette), University of South Florida, Museum of Contemporary Art, Tampa, Florida
2001
New American Talent, Texas Fine Arts Association, Austin, Texas
The Big Show, Lawndale Art Center, Houston, Texas
2000
Women in the Visual Arts, Erector Square Gallery, New Haven, Connecticut
Houston Area Exhibition, Blaffer Gallery, Houston, Texas
1999
Works Born at the Park, Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Museum, Shigaraki, Japan
1998
Materials, Process and Vision, Texas Women’s University, Denton, Texas
Lectures
2004
Panelist, Texas Sculpture Symposium, Junction, Texas
Awards
2010
Houston Arts Alliance Individual Artist Fellowship Grant recipient
2008
Artadia Grant Recipient
2007
1st Place, William and Dorothy Yeck National Young Sculptors Purchase Award,
Miami University, Juried by Mary Ceruti, Executive Director of The Sculpture Center, NY
2005
Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County Individual Artist Fellowship Grant
2000
Juror’s Award Recipient, Women in the Visual Arts, International Juried Competition, Juried by Lisa Dennison, Chief Curator, Deputy Director of the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York
1999
Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award, International Sculpture Center
Residencies
2006
The Real Art World, DiverseWorks Art Space, Houston, Texas
2005
Edward Albee Foundation, Montauk, NY
1998
Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park, Shigaraki, Japan (May-August)
Relevant Work Experience
Currently Assistant Manager, Menil Collection Bookstore, Houston, Texas
2000-2002
Preparator, The Museum of Fine Arts, Houston
2000
Fabricator, Exhibition Production, The Children’s Museum of Houston
1999-2000
Gallery Assistant, Texas Gallery, Houston, Texas
1999
Intern, Chinati Foundation, Marfa, Texas
Instructor, Beginning Sculpture, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Teaching Assistant, Experimental Sculpture, Texas Tech University
1998
Instructor, Beginning Sculpture, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas
Instructor, Three Dimensional Design, Texas Tech University
Biography
Katy Heinlein was born in Baytown, Texas in 1973. In 1995, she received her Bachelor’s degree in Fine Art from the University of Mary Hardin-Baylor in Belton, Texas. She went on to pursue a Master’s of Fine Arts degree emphasizing Sculpture in 1996 from Texas Tech University in Lubbock, Texas. While a graduate student, Ms. Heinlein traveled to Shigaraki, Japan to be an artist in residence in the summer of 1998 at The Shigaraki Ceramic Cultural Park. After receiving her Master’s in Sculpture and ceramics from TTU in 1999, Ms. Heinlein became an intern at the Chinati Foundation in Marfa, Texas. After completing her internship, Katy moved to Houston, Texas, where she still lives and works today.
In the time that Ms. Heinlein has lived in Houston, she has received several awards, participated in residency programs, and been in several notable group and solo exhibitions. In the year 2000, Ms. Heinlein was selected to participate in an international juried competition, Women in the Visual Arts, which was held at the Erector Square Gallery in New Haven Connecticut and juried by Guggenheim Deputy Director Lisa Dennison. Katy was one of three to receive a juror’s award. In 2001, Katy had a solo exhibition at Lawndale Art Center in the main gallery. That year, she was also chosen to participate in New American Talent at the Texas Fine Arts Association in Austin, Texas.
In 2005, Ms. Heinlein was awarded the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County Individual Artist Fellowship Grant. In that same year, she traveled to Montauk, NY to be an artist in residence at the Albee Foundation, and had a solo exhibition of her work at the Commerce Street Artists Warehouse in Houston, Texas. Katy was an artist in residence in 2006 at DiverseWorks Art Space in Houston, Texas. In 2007, Ms. Heinlein won the $10,000 William and Dorothy Yeck National Young Sculptors Purchase Award, and participated in a group exhibition at Miami University in conjunction with the award. Ms. Heinlein was recently awarded an Artadia grant in the Spring of 2008.
Links
Gallery representation
CTRL
Artists
Jenny Schlief
Patrick Phipps
Dan Fabian
Elaine Bradford
Other
Menil Bookstore
Supreme Value