Figure painting is my primary passion. My figurative oil paintings often embody a sense of longing for the unknown. We feel this in the dichotomy between what we see and what exists in our own inner world of our mind. In pushing subject matter, my figurative works range from expression of intimacy and connectedness to a narrative of strength and blossoming womanhood.
Born in Vancouver, BC, Canada, Kato Rempel spent her early professional years in the graphic design industry when the computer age was blossoming. Following the 14 continuous years in this industry she escaped to the South East Asia with her family, where she studied foreign cultures, art and architectural design in Sri Lanka. The foreign landscapes that inspired her most were in Sri Lanka and India. Intertwined with these travel adventures were studies of oil painting, which lead Kato to turn art into her career.
Kato’s figurative oil paintings often feature uniquely low horizon line to create a ‘larger than life’ sentimentality. In many of her earlier works she used an extreme foreshortening effect to create emotional tension within the space. Her Abstracted Realism paintings are strongly influenced by the Bauhaus architectural movement of the early 1900s. Kato’s newest work with Acrylic and Charcoal on paper exemplifies this strong line and geometric influence. Some have commented that her work takes on a cubist sensation.
Kato’s works on paper deliver rich visual expressions of beauty, mystique, diversity and reflections on far away, exotic places inspired by her experiences of traveling and living abroad.
Her artwork is in private collections worldwide, from London, England to Sydney, Australia, Germany, Canada, India and the United States.
Kato, SFCA, SCA has won several awards through the Federation of Canadian Artists juried shows and has completed a peer review advancement that now gives her the highest level designation of SFCA (Senior Member of the Federation of Canadian Artists). She has received her Elected Membership designation through the Society of Canadian Artists in 2020. As an instructor Kato passionately shares her experiences with others.
She resides in Kelowna, BC.
