Katie Hildebrandt

A Clearly Creative Abstract Artist

As e l f - t a u g h t contemporary abstract artist, Katie Hildebrandt developed her passion for art as a creative outlet during the pandemic. “My mom owns a sewing business and always encourages me to be creative and use my imagination,” she says. Hildebrandt’s first piece, an acrylic painting on a 5 x 3½foot canvas, had Hildebrandt hooked.

Since then, she’s been studying artists and painting weekly in her home studio (formerly her husband's man cave) while listening to music from Norah Jones, Elton John, and The Beatles as her soundtrack. “I always paint with music. When I get stuck, I change the type of music I’m listening to and it helps me get through my block.” Further inspiration for Hildebrant comes from the wabi-sabi movement: a traditional Japanese aesthetic that appreciates the beauty in imperfection, impermanence, and incompleteness, found in things such as pavement cracks, snow, rusted trucks, and cargo trains.

Hildebrandt creates beautiful paintings on canvas and tiles, and on 8x12" pieces of wood, which she also carves into, inspired by her grandfather, a carver. Carving into paintings gives them more depth and honours her creative legacy. “Ultimately, when people see my art, I want them to feel an emotional connection,” she says. “With abstract [work], I think everyone will see that piece differently and have a different idea of how they might connect with it.”

Another of Hildebrandt's goals is to make art more accessible. “I want an accessible way for people to grow an art collection. Art can be a bit daunting because of the price tag. I hope the tiles become treasures for people that they’ll keep forever and grow a collection from.”

As for the future, Hildebrandt hopes to grow her amazing body of work— which you can see in galleries and shops, and on the walls of Celsius, Seler Restaurant, Bistro One, and Lot 66—as well as collaborate with local artists and interior designers. “I just go with it and don’t put a lot of energy into worrying about what’s next,” she says. “It’s already led me to some cool places so far. The Thunder Bay community is so welcoming to artists.”

Hildebrandt's advice on how to begin creating art is just go for it, remember success does not happen overnight, and find beauty in the imperfections around you.

For more info, visit katiehildebrandt.art or follow @katiehildebrandt.art on Instagram.

“Ultimately, when people see my art, I want them to feel an emotional connection.”