Katrina Slavik
Originally from Cincinnati, OH, Katrina Slavik earned her BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art in 2014. This year she's shown at HEREarts, Calico Gallery, LIC Culture Lab, and other spaces. In 2021, she participated in a 6 month studio residency on Governor's Island with NYC Audubon Society. Her work is inspired by her local community, urban plants, and wildlife in Queens, NY. Her painted fabric pieces are made by sewing together upcycled fabric and clothing donated by friends and neighbors. Her works on paper are made with collage, paint, ink, and embroidery. Unlikely materials are brought together to portray the complexity of living in a city where communities, individuals, and wildlife coexist in the same space.
“Backyard in Summer”, 24”h x 21”w, Acrylic and embroidery on repurposed fabric, 2023
PP: Walk us through a typical day in your studio or generally through your process to make new work.
KS: I work full time, so my workflow is slow and steady, chipping away hour by hour. My studio is a second bedroom in my apartment, which is great for work/life/art balance. On weekdays I spend an hour and a half in the studio before I go to my job, and if I have energy after I get home I'll put in another hour or more. Weekends are more flexible.
“Backyard Garden Spirit Blessing the Feast”, 21”h x 22”w, Acrylic on old pillow case, clothing, and repurposed fabric, 2023
PP: What motivates you to make art?
KS: I've always made art as long as I can remember. It's a way of understanding and processing the world around me. Two years ago, I was creatively exhausted after finishing a huge installation for a show and I tried to take a month off from making things. I couldn't do it. I got depressed and I ended up going back to the studio and making work anyway.
PP: Is community something you value in your practice? Why or why not?
KS: Absolutely! Artist communities are so important to share ideas, opportunities, and get feedback on my work. I also love my neighborhood community in Queens. My work depicts the flow of life in Astoria. I paint images of BBQs, backyard gardens, memories, and stories onto old fabric that friends and give me.
“Neighborhood Tapestry”, 35”h x 24”w , Acrylic on repurposed fabric, 2023
PP: What is one goal you are aiming to achieve this year for your art practice?
KS: I’m teaching myself quilting. I’m planning on making a quilt-sized artwork that incorporates traditional techniques and collage, embroidery, and paint.
PP: What role do you think artists have in society today? What role should they have?
KS: Throughout most of human history, artisans and craftspeople have defined their societies by making art objects and beautiful functional objects. When these old artifacts are unearthed today, archaeologists use them to form an identity for those long dead people. In other words, these objects make other people more human to us. Artists today and in the past archive the values, ideologies, and particular humanity of their community and society. We document or question strange or beautiful things that are otherwise taken for granted.
To learn more about Katrina’s work, see her instagram and website.