DESTIG INTERVIEW WITH KAT O-NEIL ONE OF OUR 25 RECOMMENDED ARTISTS FOR 2019.
Tell us about yourself and background.
Born in NY, one of seven children. Challenging the left side of the brain with an economics major landed me on Wall Street but no amount of success could keep me from abandoning the street for the path - that painfully beautiful artistic one. Creative director by day, Playwright by night and when not writing, shooting. Though I studied dramatic writing at Columbia and had plays produced all over Manhattan I was never without a Nikon. Eventually I traded in my artist in residence in the city to be a resident artist and gallery owner in the Hamptons.
Tell us about your work.
My oeuvre is eclectic. I am as likely to be found taking photographs off the back of a Harley in Manhattan in the summer as on a commercial fishing dock in Montauk in February or at a cemetery anywhere, any time. “Kat creates works of beauty and works of provocation across different media and isn’t afraid to stare mortality or difficult facets of life in the face.”
What makes your work and approach unique?
“O’Neill’s work is a colourful coupling of near abstraction with realism along with a strong dose of implied narration.” I like exploring the fringe of life and finding unexpected beauty in the darker side - human and graphic - like Walker Evans and Henri Cartier-Bresson though, for me, more through scenes and things versus portraits. With my photography I often add words to enhance the narrative and layer images to create a sculptural effect. I work on canvas and metal but what I love about the metal is that it can live everywhere - over the fireplace or at the poolside fire pit. Outside my studio window, fastened to a tree, is a 40x40 graffiti image of Frida Kahlo.
Tell us about yourself and background.
Born in NY, one of seven children. Challenging the left side of the brain with an economics major landed me on Wall Street but no amount of success could keep me from abandoning the street for the path - that painfully beautiful artistic one. Creative director by day, Playwright by night and when not writing, shooting. Though I studied dramatic writing at Columbia and had plays produced all over Manhattan I was never without a Nikon. Eventually I traded in my artist in residence in the city to be a resident artist and gallery owner in the Hamptons.
Tell us about your work.
My oeuvre is eclectic. I am as likely to be found taking photographs off the back of a Harley in Manhattan in the summer as on a commercial fishing dock in Montauk in February or at a cemetery anywhere, any time. “Kat creates works of beauty and works of provocation across different media and isn’t afraid to stare mortality or difficult facets of life in the face.”
What makes your work and approach unique?
“O’Neill’s work is a colourful coupling of near abstraction with realism along with a strong dose of implied narration.” I like exploring the fringe of life and finding unexpected beauty in the darker side - human and graphic - like Walker Evans and Henri Cartier-Bresson though, for me, more through scenes and things versus portraits. With my photography I often add words to enhance the narrative and layer images to create a sculptural effect. I work on canvas and metal but what I love about the metal is that it can live everywhere - over the fireplace or at the poolside fire pit. Outside my studio window, fastened to a tree, is a 40x40 graffiti image of Frida Kahlo.
"My oeuvre is eclectic. I am as likely to be found taking photographs off the back of a Harley in Manhattan in the summer as on a commercial fishing dock in Montauk in February or at a cemetery anywhere, any time."
Why did you become an artist?
Blame it on the DNA. My Mother was an artist and my Dad, though a litigator by trade, was a wonderful story teller. At one point I did consider being a psychiatrist until I realized that I would have to listen to other people’s problems all day. But to steal a line from the late great Edith Piaf - je ne regrette rien - because there is nothing like hearing people laugh at something you wrote, or witness them truly reacting to a piece of art that you created. There is definitely struggle in the arts but it is commensurate with love.
Why is your work a good investment?
As a gallery owner and collector I know the importance of appreciation. I only started showing my fine art in 2015 so I have a huge untapped portfolio of photographs, mixed media and ideas to which I am constantly adding - ensuring that my art continues to evolve and engage. Reviews, exposure and the fact that all my pieces are either one of a kind or limited editions have had a significant impact on my market value. That said, having collectors wanting to live with my art every day is its own form of appreciation.
Tell us about some of your achievements.
I have been awarded Best of the Best East End Artist in the Hamptons and South Fork for the past three years as well as awarded the Award of Excellence three times. My gallery, The White Room Gallery in Bridgehampton, has also won best gallery in the Hamptons and South Fork for the past three years. And there have been countless awards for creativity in advertising and dramatic writing including Best Emerging Playwright.
Why did you become an artist?
Blame it on the DNA. My Mother was an artist and my Dad, though a litigator by trade, was a wonderful story teller. At one point I did consider being a psychiatrist until I realized that I would have to listen to other people’s problems all day. But to steal a line from the late great Edith Piaf - je ne regrette rien - because there is nothing like hearing people laugh at something you wrote, or witness them truly reacting to a piece of art that you created. There is definitely struggle in the arts but it is commensurate with love.
Why is your work a good investment?
As a gallery owner and collector I know the importance of appreciation. I only started showing my fine art in 2015 so I have a huge untapped portfolio of photographs, mixed media and ideas to which I am constantly adding - ensuring that my art continues to evolve and engage. Reviews, exposure and the fact that all my pieces are either one of a kind or limited editions have had a significant impact on my market value. That said, having collectors wanting to live with my art every day is its own form of appreciation.
Tell us about some of your achievements.
I have been awarded Best of the Best East End Artist in the Hamptons and South Fork for the past three years as well as awarded the Award of Excellence three times. My gallery, The White Room Gallery in Bridgehampton, has also won best gallery in the Hamptons and South Fork for the past three years. And there have been countless awards for creativity in advertising and dramatic writing including Best Emerging Playwright.
"There is nothing like hearing people laugh at something you wrote, or witness them truly reacting to a piece of art that you created."
What are your sources of inspiration?
Being a writer as well as an artist I do find much inspiration in the written word, often incorporating insights and humor into my pieces. Beyond that, industrial images and workers have always intrigued me. I’ve snuck into construction sites and crane graveyards. A rusty dumpster is beauty to me. Nature never disappoints nor does the exploration of life and death. Manhattan – 24 hours with a camera and I return with 500 shots of inspiration. And of course a dark bar - anywhere in the world - corner seat, notebook - characters are in the cocktails.
What are you passionate about?
Besides the obvious – the arts - passion lives in the human condition. I incorporate it into all my work – written and visual… the unseen, the overlooked, the ephemeral, the beauty - the good, the bad and especially the perceived ugly. On a personal level I have championed many causes but at the gallery we work with several charities through exhibits and our Culture Club, fighting abuse to women, children and animals as well as cancer and addiction.
Tell us the back-story of some of your projects.
For my Uncle Jack mixed media series I used vintage album covers, photography and lines from fiction pieces I wrote for the East Hampton Star. For my Tombstone series I layered 200-year-old tombstones to bring dead narratives to life. The history of the tombstones, coupled with the decay over time, creates beautiful monuments to lives long gone and reminds those still here, to live. My Commercial Fishing Boat Reflections series evolved from the discovery of beauty in the negative space. My West series is a way to showcase graffiti and the concrete beauty of urban living.
"For my Tombstone series I layered 200-year-old tombstones to bring dead narratives to life. The history of the tombstones, coupled with the decay over time, creates beautiful monuments to lives long gone and reminds those still here, to live."
Share with us your upcoming projects.
Our gallery is open year round and we have an exhibit every month, which keeps us quite busy. We pride ourselves on curating unique exhibits that engage and entice. This summer is our third graffiti exhibit. It is a juried show, titled TAG – the fine art of graffiti. Outside of the gallery, I am always conceptualizing on the next trigger point. The abstract series where I print one of my photographic images on a canvas and then use layers of spray paints and acrylics to add dimension, texture and impact is my latest, late night exploration… always evaluated in the morning light. And, of course, I shoot pretty much every day so there is also the new revelation to be explored.
Tell us about where you are based.
The cultural Mecca of the east end of Long Island known for its unique light and beauty. 2+ hours from Manhattan. East Hampton, specifically “The Springs” has been described as the cradle of the abstract expressionist movement. Home of the de Koonings, John Ferren, Krasner and Pollack. The east end was coined The Hamptons in 1879 as part of a destination campaign once the railroad was expanded. I live in East Hampton. Our gallery, as mentioned previously, is on Main Street in Bridgehampton. To pay homage to the iconic abstract expressionists of East Hampton the “Springs Invitational” was created where certain artists are invited to exhibit in the same gallery where the icons showed. I have been invited several times. I have also walked through Pollock’s studio, which is right down the road and created a drip painting on his lawn. Many writers also hail from The Hamptons. I got to write “Uncle Jack’s Steinbeck” in the writing shack that Steinbeck himself built. The piece was published in The East Hampton Star.
"Though beauty seems to be underrated in the world today sometimes just serving up artworks that are simply beautiful is its own statement."
How do you feel about art and its role in the world ?
As an artist, gallery owner and mother I feel the role has never been more vital. Through the gallery and The Culture Club that my business partner and I created we are vigilant about expanding the arts. What was wonderful about the renaissance was that it celebrated all forms of cerebral exploration. Today, diversification is not as valued. Of course math and science have their place in history but, without art, who do you think would be looking up at the Sistine Chapel?
How do you want your art to affect viewers?
To add something. Humor. Compassion. Reflection. Intrigue. Rage. My plays were all sardonic comedies but if you looked closer there was always some form of suffering and loneliness. I suppose my desired affect is as eclectic as my work. I have no interest in pushing the boundaries to offend but if I can help portray that black lives matter and abuse is never to be tolerated I certainly will.
And then we circle back to the word appreciation. Though beauty seems to be underrated in the world today sometimes just serving up artworks that are simply beautiful is its own statement.
Website: katoneillgallery.com
| PDF of the Interview in DESTIG Magazine |