About Katharine Shuman

Growing up in California, the natural world has always been an influential counterpart to my creativity. 

My art is motivated by the inextricable connections between humanity and nature, ties that have become increasingly important this past decade. Amidst a reality that is brimming with the consequences of climate change, each painting reveals the beauty within our interconnected existence. Every one of these elements shapes our lives in one way or another – what and who would be lost in their absence?

Humanity, food, and nature occupy a continuous feedback loop, such that a change to one becomes a change to all. Leveraging art to visualize these connections is an act of empowerment: I’m emphasizing the viewer’s numerous motivations for confronting the difficult realities of climate change. When sustainability is framed as an undesirable sacrifice, it is destined to fail from the start – but when we envision the overwhelming benefit (and absolute necessity) of these costs, it becomes an opportunity for expansion rather than restriction. 

A sustainable life is one that seeks an alternate form of existence, but not a lesser one. My art leads by example in demonstrating the intentionality, close observation, and increased awareness that modern sustainability requires. It is a vivid reminder of the clarity that can accompany a slower life, leading us one step closer to the respectful balance that lies at the heart of a livable future.