Catherine Twomey

The majesty and beauty of the fragile earth is a muse - if I can capture its depth, energy and preciousness, I can share that and heighten awareness of it’s fleeting uniqueness. The ethereal, soft and dramatic sequences of paint I apply suggest rapidly changing light; earthly upheavals; uncontrolled forces.

The fluid paint has a mind of its own; yet in subtle ways it can be directed for the better of the whole. Rather than trying to control every aspect of the pigments, I find it much more enjoyable to let the paint find its own way, like water does as it forms a stream or mountains do as they respond to internal forces in undulate shapes and sizes.

Painting provides a sense of peace and productivity that is unmatched. I feel a profound reverence for nature and have a heightened sense of urgency driving me to engage people through my work. I immerse myself in natural surroundings, finding a deep connection to the mountains, the waterfalls, oceans and skies.

First I hike, paint plein air, then take observations back to the studio to create a personal response to the experience. I seek to prompt people to relish their interactions with nature and the world: politically, physically and emotionally. Ultimately, I want my work to e...

· University of Illinois, B.S. in Biocommunication Arts/Medical Illustration. Coursework in instructional design, illustration, design, surgery, exhibits, audiovisual production and photography.
· U. of I. Medical School Sciences: human gross anatomy, physiology, neuroanatomy, histology, embryology, pathology.
· Northern Illinois University Graduate School, M.S. in Art Education, Summa Cum Laude.

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2025: Exhibited at the Asheville, NC Exhibit: "Asheville Strong: Celebrating Art and Community After Hurricane Helene"

2025: Represented by Woolworth Walk Gallery, Haywood St., Asheville, NC.

2024: “Art In Bloom” juried exhibition, The Gallery At Flat Rock, Flat Rock, NC.

2024: “North Carolina Arboretum” Group Exhibition as a part the Azalea Festival.

2024: “Leicester Studio Tour” invitational exhibition at Olivette Community, Asheville, August, 2024.

2023 “Humans And Nature” the Center for Humans and Nature award for six of my works to be published in 2023. A version of ‘Accelerating’ first appeared in a publication of the Center for Humans and Nature Press and is revised and reprinted here with permission of the Center for Humans and Nature Press.

2023: International gallery Singulart, has named my work “Maple Ridge Craggy Gardens” to their Fall Harvest Collection. This piece is in oil on an archival panel.

2023 “Saluda Studios Grand Opening” - Artwork represented as a part of Preserving a Picturesque America new gallery located in Saluda, NC.

2022 “Legends of the Moon”; Group Show with ERA Contemporary Gallery, Philadelphia. Artwork part of gallery show and will be digitized, then sent to the moon...