The River
Charcoal, Mixed Media on Paper
Kathleen Ward earned her MFA in Painting and Studio Arts in 1996, with a minor in Art History from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (UNCG). She taught studio classes and art history courses for Wake County Public Schools, as well as UNCG and Appalachian State University. The River took more than a year to complete, starting with the literal interpretation of a metal can. Ward’s commentary on this piece reveals her “long-evolving interest in self-discovery, transformation and metamorphosis, and the regenerative power of nature.” This drawing is a result of twelve similar works by Ward, referring back to her dwelling in Valle Crucis, North Carolina. Ward has exhibited widely, and her paintings are in more than 100 collections in the U.S. and Europe. She practiced curatorial work in Virginia and North Carolina, published several articles, and recieved multiple grants and awards.