Kate Ritchie is a mixed media artist who is constantly exploring new ways to create. For her collages and abstract paintings, she usually starts with a predetermined color palette but the rest of the composition organically forms along the way. Ritchie views creating art as a form of meditation and will often work on several pieces at once until each artwork comes together. She likes to think about the abstract forms in her paintings as existing in a 3 dimensional space and will often incorporate shadows, highlights, and layering shapes to convey this idea. Ritchie draws inspiration from nature and sacred geometry which is rendered through her use of vibrant color, pattern, and texture. Originally from Salisbury, NC, Kate Ritchie grew up on a horse farm lined with a creek and acres of woods. Kate was put in art classes from the time she was 5 years old where she made crafts in the ‘art room’ in the loft of the barn on her family’s property. She has been making art her whole life and enjoys learning and experimenting with new art techniques. While studying Studio Art at College of Charleston from 2010-2014, she decided to not have a focus and instead took art classes in every medium the college offered. She is now finding ways to combine these techniques to make new and unique pieces of artwork. Kate Ritchie received a BA in Studio Art and Arts Management at the College of Charleston in 2014 and still resides in Charleston today. She can be found working in her studio at Redux Contemporary Art Studio most days.