Classically trained portrait artist Kate McClure made a shift in her approach to art several years ago. Wanting to break free from the constraints of realism, she began painting more intuitively, using color as a way to evoke an emotional response. The result is work that is more closely aligned with the artist’s inner soul.

Her recent work is rooted in the uninhibited spirit of Folk Art and the raw, expressive essence of the Primitive Art Movement, each piece in this collection tells a story through form, symbol, and texture. Working with oil paint mixed with cold wax medium, I build up rich, tactile surfaces layer by layer—scraping back, carving into, and reapplying paint to reveal the history hidden just beneath the surface. This deliberate, physical process imbues every canvas with a weathered character and a sense of passage through time. Archetypal imagery—playful yet enigmatic rabbits, quiet birds, and simplified human figures—emerges from the textured depths, evoking folklore, memory, and a grounded connection to the natural world. These paintings invite you to look closely, encouraging a quiet dialogue between ancient aesthetic instincts and contemporary art-making.

Kate is a full-time artist in Lynchburg, VA. A native Tennessean and Virginia transplant, Kate received a BFA in Fine Art from Auburn University. She continued her studies at the Florence Academy of Art. Kate has been a full-time portrait artist for over a decade, and in 2019 she expanded her practice to include original artwork. Kate’s work is part of the permanent collections of Auburn University and the American Cancer Society’s Hope Lodge.

For inquiries please contact studio@katemcclureart.com