Kathy Colt

Sol, 2026

Wax resist and solid Indigo-dyed cloth, embroidery floss, wound wire and cut elements; pieced and assembled/applied/hand-stitched; stretched canvas substructure with picture wire

12.5 x 12.5 inches

Courtesy of the artist

Kathycolt.com

Trained as a landscape architect, my acts of design have always been about "surfaces." In the past, earth, plants, brick, and stone were my materials; now cloth, fiber and colorants. A bridge between past sensibilities and present expression continues to be forged as I move from working with wool and felt process to exploring plant-based color and bast fibers.

Creating connection and stability through my work and relationships is fundamental. I moved around a lot as a child and that had an impact on a lot of levels. While I have lived many places, three stand out as major influences. If I may use a plant metaphor: my roots are in both Hawaii and the Puget Sound area, my crown is in Georgia, and my heart is in all three. Marine environments and forests are the substrate, expressive movement and eastern philosophy, the connective tissue; and long-evolving, valued friendships with amazing artists and craftspeople, my nourishment. I begin to see that "net"-works and their re-forging, along with shelter and terrain (both interior and exterior), are central themes in my work (even in the choice of surface pattern in my design work). The dance continues.