Opening Reception on Thursday, November 21, 4:00-6:00pm at Pegasus Gallery.

Kat Owens creates life-size portraits of animal species impacted by plastics discarded by humans. Each work is composed of consumer waste and recycling stream packaging that are manipulated into visually striking compositions. The basis of her process includes mosaic, quilt, and collage traditions but encompasses a larger artistic practice of observation, research, community engagement, and environmental education.

The power of Owens’ artwork resides in the pattern rich arrangements of graphic text fonts, inherent material surface contrasts, and bold color interactions. The overall visual effects these packaging combinations offer are further heightened by juxtapositions of their recognizable product components and the life-like animal portraits they contain. In spite of the visual pleasure Owens’ arrangements of everyday plastic materials offer, the species represented in each project is poignantly fabricated from the very material pollutants that threaten them.

Kat Owens is an interdisciplinary artist, teacher, and researcher who focuses on the environment. Owens holds a PHD in Governance and Sustainable Development from the University of Twente (the Netherlands). She also holds an MA of Environmental Studies, a BA Biology, a BS Anthropology, and a BA Studio Art from the College of Charleston, South Carolina. She has led community workshops and exhibited her artwork throughout Connecticut, regionally, and internationally. See more of her work at: www.katowens.com