Katrin is a Costa Rican artist originally from Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1990, she moved to Costa Rica, where she fully immersed herself in her artistic journey. In 2014, she began exploring the technique of weaving in her paintings, initially focusing on figurative subjects. Her innovative approach quickly gained recognition, leading to numerous accolades and exhibitions in various countries.
A pivotal moment in Katrin's career came in 2019 when she was invited to showcase her work alongside Cuban artist Eduardo Abela Torras during the XIII Havana Biennale. This experience marked a significant transition in her art, as she shifted from figurative pieces to geometric abstraction. In this new direction, she emphasized weaving and symbolism through color and form to convey her deepest thoughts and emotions.
Katrin describes her work by saying, "Weaving, often seen as a 'woman's task' in many cultures, allows me to create pieces that transform based on perspective—whether viewed up close or from afar. Each strip becomes a fragment, a pixel, an experience, a scar that contributes to the whole. I don’t give them a title per se, so as not to influence the viewer, allowing them to enjoy the piece as a whole and discover its various layers of design."
Through her innovative weaving technique, Katrin challenges and defies the limits of geometric abstraction. She transforms traditional forms and structures into dynamic compositions that evoke emotion and depth, inviting viewers to reconsider rigid definitions of abstraction. By blending intricate patterns with personal narratives and symbolism, she creates a dialogue between the viewer and the artwork, encouraging deeper exploration of perception and meaning. In this way, Katrin redefines geometric abstraction, enriching it with layers of complexity and introspection.
Her latest series, “Más allá del Indigo,” currently on display at the Museum of Contemporary Art and Design in San José, Costa Rica, showcases a more complex design. In this series, she has dyed each fabric used in her weavings with natural pigments, honoring processes that have been left behind over time.
Selected Exhibitions
2022- X International Biennale of Contemporary Textile Art WTA. Omar Dengo Foundation, San José, Costa Rica.
X International Biennale of Contemporary Textile Art, National Gallery, Costa Rica.
2021- Two-Dimensional Biennale Marco Aurelio Aguilar. Cartago Municipal Museum, Cartago, Costa Rica
Every Woman Biennale, Copeland Gallery, London, United Kingdom and Northern Ireland.
2019 - XIII Havana Biennale . “Trascender” Havana, Cuba.
2024- "Más allá del Indigo." Curated by Gary Hior. Museum of Contemporary Art and Design. San José, Costa Rica.
2022- "A- Simetría Concreta" Traveling exhibition. Cartago Municipal Museum. Cartago, Costa Rica
"A- Simetría Concreta" National Gallery. San José, Costa Rica
2020- "Angeles y Demonios" Cartago Municipal Museum. Cartago, Costa Rica
2018- Textile Symposium. Federation of Canadian Artists Gallery. Invited to represent the FCA during the symposium. Vancouver, Canada.
2017- "Entre tejidos y telares" VIP Juan Santamaria International Airport. Alajuela, Costa Rica
2016- "Entre tejidos y telares" VIP Juan Santamaria International Airport. Alajuela, Costa Rica
"Sinergia" Haussmark Design District. Escazú, Costa Rica.
2015- "1+1=1" Matices Gallery, Costa Rica Country Club. Escazú, Costa Rica.
"Mujeres" Centro Nacional de Fuerza y Luz. San José, Costa Rica.
2024- "Hard Edge" El Aleph. San José, Costa Rica
2023- "Imperfect Geometry" Craig Krull Gallery. California, United States.
"Pi-Art Festival" Kamalio Gallery. Punta Islita, Costa Rica
2022- "Inclaudicables" Cuarto 37 Gallery. Klaus Steinmetz Contemporary. San José, Costa Rica
2021- "Exclamaciones compartidas" The Light Gallery and Jose Amar Gallery. Medellin, Colombia
"Relac-Arte: Mirada latinoamericana Actual" Red de Seguimiento, Evaluación y Sistematización de America Latina y el Caribe (ReLac) Brasil
"ValoArte" Artflow Gallery. San José, Costa Rica.
2019- "Arte con Causa" Las Palmas, Guanacaste, Costa Rica.
2018- "Costa Rican artists explore space" Jacob Babchuk Gallery. San José, Costa Rica.
"Amazonas: Luchando por la vida" Auction and exhibition, National Gallery and Hior Gallery. San José, Costa Rica.
"Arte" Matices Gallery. San José, Costa Rica
"Alchemic body: Fire, Air, Water, Earth" Jorge Jurado Art Gallery. Bogotá, Colombia
"Active Member exhibition" FCA Gallery, Vancouver Canada
2017- "Sueños Despiertos" AG Gallery. San José, Costa Rica
"The Lawley Art Group" TLAG. Texas, United States
"Bendita Corazón" various locations. Costa Rica
"Canvas Unbound" FCA Gallery. Vancouver, Canada
2016- "Postcard competition and exhibition" FCA Gallery, Vancouver, Canada
"Works on Paper" FCA Gallery. Vancouver, Canada
2015- "Painting on the Edge" FCA Gallery. Vancouver, Canada
"Colectiva de artistas" Matices Gallery. San José, Costa Rica
"Recuérdame los años dorados" 2258 Gallery. San José, Costa Rica
2014- "Colectiva de Artistas" Matices Gallery. San José, Costa Rica
2001- "Untitled" National Gallery, San José, Costa Rica
2017- Red dot Miami. Jorge Jurado Art Gallery. Bogotá, Colombia
2024- Natural dyeing. Olga Reiche. San Juan del Obispo, Guatemala
2023- Natural dyeing with Indigo. Hacienda los Nacimientos. San Salvador, El Salvador
2020-2022- Honors Alumni Arte Residency, Arquetopia Foundation. Puebla, Mexico
2019- Backstrap weave and traditional textiles, Arquetopia Foundation. Cusco, Peru