Originally from New England, Kate moved first to the west coast and then the Midwest, graduating from the University of Chicago where she studied the impact of religion on political movements and immigration. Looking to move back to the east coast after several years working in Illinois, she found a job as a caretaker on a public land trust off the coast of Maine and unexpectedly fell in love with building things. She began working in historical restoration carpentry, eventually shifting to fine furniture, technical woodworking, and sculpture.

Based on her own experience of frequent moves, her current MFA research at UW Madison explores the way we perceive, make sense of, and connect with our surroundings. In other words, what does it really mean to know a place? Drawing on materials like wood, textiles, paper, and wire to create interactive and site-specific installation, she looks at how water and light interact with our environment and change our experience of space, from fleeting and unexpected effects to long-term material shifts. Besides creating sculptural pieces, Kate’s practice also celebrates the importance of community in craft and art education.