Artist's Biography
Kat Black is a freelance painter who specializes in murals and photo-realistic gouache paintings, and experiments with various other mediums. She divides her time between Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Oaxaca, Mexico, drawing deep inspiration from each of these places.
She has spent the majority of her adult life in Oaxaca and considers it her second home. Her years spent immersed in Oaxacan culture are expressed in her designs, integrating aspects of the city’s vibrant colors, architecture, horticulture, and indigenous handicrafts. She has designed and painted murals all over Oaxaca in hotels, hostels, cafés, bakeries, and private homes.
Kat is currently happy to be based in Philadelphia, the mural capital of the world. Here she has had the opportunity to work on large scale projects with teams of profoundly talented artists, where she has fine-tuned her technical painting, color mixing, and mural installation skills.
She is inspired by various forms of art including independent film and literature, as well as the beauty found in nature, and celebrations and rituals. When she’s not painting, Kat enjoys visiting museums, creative writing, and traveling all over the world.
Education
2019
Mural Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Mural Training Program
2018
Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
Cyanotype
2016
FABA Face and Body Painting Class, San Francisco, CA
2009
Philadelphia University, Philadelphia, PA
Bachelor of Science, Textile Design
2007
American University of Rome, Rome, Italy
Italian Art and History
Awards
2005
Society of Creative Arts of Newtown Collegiate Scholarship, Newtown, CT
Women’s Club Collegiate Scholarship, Newtown, CT
Publications
2020
Distillery Dogs Art Book, Oaxaca, Mexico
Public Projects
2019
Mexican Peso Origami, Mural, Casa Angel Hostel, Oaxaca, Mexico
Jaguar in the House, Mural, Casa Angel Hostel, Oaxaca, Mexico
Without Borders, Mural, Central Xochimilco Hotel, Oaxaca, Mexico
2018
Flores de Chepiche, Mural, Chepiche Café, Oaxaca, Mexico
2015
Burro on a Bike, Decorative Paintings and Sign, Burro Bikes, Oaxaca, Mexico
2014
Día de los Muertos, Mural, Casa Angel Hostel, Oaxaca, Mexico
Cajeta y Chocolate, Mural, Cereza Verde Bakery, Oaxaca, Mexico
Cereza Verde, Painted Sign, Cereza Verde Bakery, Oaxaca, Mexico
Oaxaca Skyline, Mural, Casa Angel Hostel, Oaxaca, Mexico
Circles, Mural, Cafe Kandinsky, Oaxaca, Mexico
Libros Para Pueblos, Painted Sign, Oaxaca Lending Library, Oaxaca, Mexico
2013
Energy for All, Acrylic Painting, Tonámix Solar Energy, Oaxaca, Mexico
Antigua Map, Mural, Hostel Sergio, Antigua, Guatemala
Mitla Patterns, Mural, Casa Angel Hostel, Oaxaca, Mexico
2012
Oaxaca City Map, Mural, Casa Angel Hostel, Oaxaca, Mexico
2011
“Coffee” in Various Languages, Mural, Jaguar Yúu Cafe, Oaxaca, Mexico
2009
Nights at OM, Menu Cover, OM Bar and Restaurant, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Trilingual Dangerous Currents, Painted Sign, Poc-na Hostel, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Private Commissions
2020
Passyunk Square, Gouache Painting, Philadelphia, PA
2018
Dia de los Muertos, Group Face Painting, La Betulia Hotel, Oaxaca, Mexico
2015
Nursery Animals, Mural, Private Home, Oaxaca, Mexico
2014
Oaxacan Women, Acrylic Paintings, Oaxaca, Mexico
Siempre Volvemos, Mural, Private Home, Oaxaca, Mexico
Professional Experience
2021
Assistant Mural Painter, Lead Artist Ali M Williams, Philadelphia PA
2021
Assistant Mural Painter, Lead Artist Maria Roman, Philadelphia PA
2019 - 2021
Assistant Mural Painter, Lead Artist James Burns, Philadelphia PA
2018
Assistant Mural Painter, Lead Artist Swoon, Philadelphia PA
2013
Assistant Mural Painter, Lead Artist David Guinn, Philadelphia PA
Teaching Experience
2019 - Present
Mural Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Community Mural Painting Workshops
