|
|
Katie Hovencamp received her BFA from Arizona State University in 2009 and her MFA from the Pennsylvania State University in 2014. Hovencamp has exhibited her work in numerous exhibitions within the United States, Europe, and Asia. Her work has been reviewed in Sculpture Magazine, Chicago Reader, and several online and print publications. She was the recipient of the Outstanding Student Achievement Award for Contemporary Sculpture in 2014 and the University Graduate Fellowship at the Pennsylvania State University in 2012. Hovencamp has participated in residency programs at Vermont Studio Center, Serde Interdisciplinary artist group in Latvia, and the Tyrone Guthrie Centre in Ireland. In 2016, she was awarded an artist residency with International Sculpture Center at Mana Contemporary in Jersey City, NJ. She has taught at various institutions such as the Edna Vihel Center for the Arts, Totts Gap Art Institute, Pennsylvania State University, Harrisburg Area Community College, Keystone College, Cedar Crest College, Northampton Community College, and Moravian University.
Published on April 1st, 2025. Artist responses collected in months previous.
Talk about some of the logistics of your art practice. What systems do you have in place to help streamline your workflows?
I have to budget my time according to my school schedule. I'll teach for two different colleges locally and it means balancing different groups of students as well as managing studio time. For one of the courses I teach it is a sculpture class and that requires a lot of outside class time for prep and student assistance. The tricky part about sculpture is nothing is ever the same because all of the students have very different ideas and I have to assist them with building their projects. So, when I have time to work on my own projects, I need to be sure that I give myself extra time in case something changes or I need to adapt.
What is some advice for someone who does not have any experience who would like to pursue a career like yours?
I would say try and learn as much as you can. Study various kinds of art, take workshops, and seek out mentors. I also think it is important to really understand what your interests are when it comes to studying are, and why you want to study it. I think the best art that can be made is one that you can really see and feel the artist in the work. In my opinion art is always an extension of yourself in someway shape or form. It is a way to connect with people and generate conversations, which is a very powerful thing. I think that artists have the power to move people and make change. So I think it is really important to understand why someone wants to become an artist.
What was the lowest point in your art career and how did you overcome those adversities?
My lowest point was when my mom got sick and passed away from cancer. I had a really hard time trying to stay focused on my work because I had to focus on my family. And I'm glad I did have this time to really focus on my family and figure out what was truly important to me in life. My art is very important to me, but I also care very deeply for my family and I want to make as many good memories as possible. So I established a better work life balance.
How did you come into the type of artwork you are doing now?
I did a lot of research in traditional women's roles as well as weaponry. So I started combining the imagery to see what happens. I also reflect deeply on my interests as a person. My artwork has always been about questioning women's rules throughout society, yet I also have an interest in domestic things such as cooking. Then, as far as the materials I use I often work in very industrial processes. So I started to combine all of these aspects together.
What was an epiphany in your art practice that took you to the next level?
I decided that it was really important for me to have fun while I was making my artwork. This allowed me to become more invested in my pieces and I also never wanted my artwork to feel like it was a job. So often times my artwork makes me laugh or I'm really enjoying the process that I'm doing and I think that's important and helps the piece come out better in the long run.
Talk about some of the logistics of your art practice. What systems do you have in place to help streamline your workflows?
I have to budget my time according to my school schedule. I'll teach for two different colleges locally and it means balancing different groups of students as well as managing studio time. For one of the courses I teach it is a sculpture class and that requires a lot of outside class time for prep and student assistance. The tricky part about sculpture is nothing is ever the same because all of the students have very different ideas and I have to assist them with building their projects. So, when I have time to work on my own projects, I need to be sure that I give myself extra time in case something changes or I need to adapt.
What is some advice for someone who does not have any experience who would like to pursue a career like yours?
I would say try and learn as much as you can. Study various kinds of art, take workshops, and seek out mentors. I also think it is important to really understand what your interests are when it comes to studying are, and why you want to study it. I think the best art that can be made is one that you can really see and feel the artist in the work. In my opinion art is always an extension of yourself in someway shape or form. It is a way to connect with people and generate conversations, which is a very powerful thing. I think that artists have the power to move people and make change. So I think it is really important to understand why someone wants to become an artist.
What was the lowest point in your art career and how did you overcome those adversities?
My lowest point was when my mom got sick and passed away from cancer. I had a really hard time trying to stay focused on my work because I had to focus on my family. And I'm glad I did have this time to really focus on my family and figure out what was truly important to me in life. My art is very important to me, but I also care very deeply for my family and I want to make as many good memories as possible. So I established a better work life balance.
How did you come into the type of artwork you are doing now?
I did a lot of research in traditional women's roles as well as weaponry. So I started combining the imagery to see what happens. I also reflect deeply on my interests as a person. My artwork has always been about questioning women's rules throughout society, yet I also have an interest in domestic things such as cooking. Then, as far as the materials I use I often work in very industrial processes. So I started to combine all of these aspects together.
What was an epiphany in your art practice that took you to the next level?
I decided that it was really important for me to have fun while I was making my artwork. This allowed me to become more invested in my pieces and I also never wanted my artwork to feel like it was a job. So often times my artwork makes me laugh or I'm really enjoying the process that I'm doing and I think that's important and helps the piece come out better in the long run.
Find Katie Hovencamp on Instagram
|
|