Original Art By Katie Towne | Ugallery.com

artist statement

I explore human interactions and emotions through a critical eye and illustrate the fantasy I see in reality. My photographic work has been described as 'anti-portraiture' portraiture. I have been working on a project that involves 100 or more people photographed in series of five that will eventually fill an entire room. The main idea behind the project is that the everyday interactions we have with ourselves seem normal, but when looked at from the outside, could be considered schizophrenic. I find the everyday fascinating and I try to capture it so that it can be looked upon as art. I am also highly inspired by fashion photography and try to incorporate that style into almost street photography-type narratives.

In addition to my photographic work, I am also a mixed media artist and I incorporate this into my photography. I paint, draw, sew, screenprint, digitally edit my photography, and film what can be considered pop art inspired works. I adore the surreal in a Warhol-esque way.

I was most inspired by my high school photography professor and friend Aaron Abbott. He motivated me to explore my talents in photography and influenced me to pursue it as a career. It is hard to explain how much this man has influenced nearly everything I do.

My whole life has been surrounded by art so it seems only natural that I live it. Everyday experiences influence me as well as deeply personal ones. Anything can inspire me, even things that I loathe.