We recently connected with Nina Katz and have shared our conversation below.

Nina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

A few years ago, the New York Times reported on a memo circulating within the federal government that aimed to strip transgender people from some of their civil rights. It was then that I felt even after years of advocating for my transgender child, the activism I was participating in wasn’t enough. I had to use my art to make a stand. I painted a series of portraits out of a desire to support and to share my love for the Trans people in my life and in my community. I also wanted the subjects of these portraits to be more than subjects: I wanted to honor how they see themselves, and to honor how they would like others to see them. As the paintings developed, it became clear to me that the audio I acquired from each subject’s interview ought to be included in the presentation. In the solo show at The Jack Fischer Gallery, titled, “Larger than Life” each portrait is paired with an audio clip of the subject discussing aspects of their journey and expressing what it means to them to be trans. My hope was that these paintings would demonstrate the beauty and courage of trans people, that they won’t be silenced, and that they cannot be erased. Today more than ever, support and advocacy for the trans community is critical.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

While I consider myself an artist ever since I was a child, I didn’t actually get to really make art until well into my 40s. Prior to that I had a career as a health care professional and then worked in high tech companies for over 20 years. Feeling that something was missing, I took up painting and gradually, but consistently, I continued to paint. I dedicated my time to painting as much as I could and eventually was able to get into shows, get commissions and gallery representation. I have been committed to painting the way I want to paint and what I want to paint. My “mantra” is to “play with paint” and what that means to me is to pay attention to what the paint is telling me, to be inspired by its unique qualities, whether I am painting portraits, abstracted figurative work, still life, etc. I have learned how to trust myself as an artist, to take risks and mostly, to be true to myself.

Is there something you think non-creatives will struggle to understand about your journey as a creative? Maybe you can provide some insight – you never know who might benefit from the enlightenment.

Most people who are “non-creatives” often tell me that they cannot draw, they are not creative, but I beg to differ. I beleive that everyone has the capacity to be creative and make art. Part of the leap is telling yourself that you can and then you have to put in the work.
As I mentioned earlier, I didn’t get into my art career until after I went through two other professions. I also have an identical twin sister who did go to professional art school. Even though I was interested in art in my teens, I felt we had to take diverging paths (one of the weird things about being a twin). So even though I had a short but successful career as an ICU nurse, and then a long and successful career as a HR executive, I alway felt there was something missing. I took the leap and decided to just start doing art. I took courses, studied with other artists and made a lot of bad paintings. Because I had my twin, who went to art school and was really good, I always felt I could not measure up. So I focused on the process rather than the end result so that I learned to love what I was doing, even though the work wasn’t so good. I also learned how to take risks – how to destroy work that was really good in one spot but not as a whole, to start over again, to trust my instincts about what was good rather than other people’s feedback. Eventually, I was able to make some really good work, and I was able to call myself an artist. Now, I still make a lot of bad paintings but also more good ones. I’ve learned how to trust the process and to trust myself.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

I get to do what I want to do. I paint a lot and I can do it any time of day and every day. I get to paint what I want and how I want. Even if I am commissioned for work, I get to decide how it is best done. When I’m not working in the studio, I feel there’s something missing and often can’t wait to get back there. Its a good feeling. Not that every day is like that. Many days I paint all day, only to wipe it all away if it’s not working. Thats the frustrating part. The reward comes when I show up again the next day and I’ve figured it out. Even if that takes a while and sometimes it does, eventually, by showing up in the studio, it comes together.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.ninakatz.com
• Instagram: ninakatzart

Image Credits

For the photo of me in my studio: Karla Waterhouse, Waterhouse Photography