Katie Hestla

I am an oil painter and instructor, and my art is shaped by my playful view of life, blending surreal narratives with carefree whimsy. My early explorations in ceramics and metal casting have evolved into a material-driven approach to art that embraces texture, structure, and dimensional detail.

Working primarily in oils, I incorporate charcoal, gold leaf, rice paper, encaustic, and wire to create layered surfaces that extend beyond the traditional picture plane. My use of rice paper expands the physical boundaries of the canvas, introducing movement and tactile depth, while gold leaf and charcoal create a dynamic interplay of luminosity and shadow.

My work ranges from intimate 4" x4" to 48" x 48" and beyond. Regardless of scale, each painting invites close viewing through intricate details that reveal themselves with close observation. Through this balance of material richness and playful imagery, I explore the fluid space between reality and imagined worlds.

-Katie Hestla