Today we’d like to introduce you to Katie Gazzo

Hi Katie, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?

My name is Katie Gazzo and I’m an artist! I struggled to call myself an artist for a long time, but I realize now, I am an artist, I always have been, and always will be.
A little about my background. I was raised by a talented creative mother, who struggled with mental health. She was talented, but sick. She was passionate, but depressed. This lead to me becoming an artist like her, but also meant being removed from my her custody due to her pain making it hard to be a proper parent.
I was placed into various temporary settings, including in and out of
youth shelters and foster care, so you could imagine life was difficult but one thing stayed the same, my passion for creating. We didn’t have much in these temporary homes, but we always had a pencil or pen. I drew my dream homes. My dream families.
I started off my artistic career as tattoo artist, but realized how much I didn’t like having to be “perfect” in my work. I love big brush strokes, I have a fast hand speed and love to feel textures when I create. I was making good money as a tattoo artist, but unhappy with skin as a medium. So I quit art and worked corporate office roles.
I wasn’t happy. I was still hurting from my childhood, and was having a hard time finding my way in life.
May of 2023, I started taking art and my mental health more seriously. I was almost 28, and it felt like my last chance to break generational curses. It felt like my last chance to honor my mother, who committed suicide in 2016.
After applying to be in my first art show and being accepted, I felt this door open. A momentum pushing me through the door into a new life.
By August, I had a mural in the skywalks of Des Moines.
By winter, I had tons of art shows under my belt.
I was feeling like a true artist.
This spring, i was hired by my cities Art Center to be a community access teaching artist. now I’m a paid artist.
I have a painting in my first exhibit right now! It’s at my local cities art center. That was a huge honor.
I still do art shows, but am really leaning into the teaching, helping, inspiring side of art.
I have had a few public speaking events recently, where i had the honor of telling my story in connection to art. I love using my voice in combination with my art to share messages, and inspire. I hope to continue to do more public speaking, community work and other forms of inspirational outlets with my art.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

It’s been a winding road, with a lot of intense and big feelings surrounding my life and art. I have moments where I’m unsure I can see any road ahead of me, but I trust the path is there.
I cherish the difficult moments just as much as good ones. There’s something about the pain or fight to keep going. Without dark, there is no light. The determination of getting around an obstacle is something that fuels my mission. Being a resilient person is reflected in my work, and how I live my life.

Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?

I’m a multifaceted artist with a passion for spreading awareness through multiple mediums.
I always thought that I had to be REALLY good at only one medium. I’m understanding that it’s a blessing to enjoy multiple forms of art. I chose to stop putting myself into a box.
I am really good at painting, that’s my forte, but I enjoy everything from photography to jewelry making.
I have been on a kick of spray painting large canvases lately, and am hoping to do more murals.
Next month, i might want to do film. Who knows.
I think i just enjoy experiencing everything possible, especially when it comes to my art.
I’m most proud of my mural, because I had no experience with mural work and took the challenge head on. I was so incredibly proud of the results, and it showed me how capable I am to do anything I really put my mind to.
This versatility, fluidity, and true expressionalism sets me apart from others. I think often how I feel happy I didn’t go to art school, because I’m not rigid with terms or rules. I FEEL everything I create.

Have you learned any interesting or important lessons due to the Covid-19 Crisis?

That we need humans. We need connection. We need community. Hyper-individualism is taking away our basic human need for seeing, touching, loving – other humans. We need each other, as artists, or not. Having a creative community has changed my life and we all deserve that sense of belonging. Especially after Covid robbed us of connection, but I have faith that we are all rebuilding, one compassionate interaction at a time.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gazzogalleries?igsh=MTA4MWE4bnFlN3Z0cg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61558039464709&mibextid=LQQJ4d
• Youtube: https://youtube.com/@katiegazzoyoutube?si=twwQBmo_0W5aQ0IZ
• Soundcloud: https://on.soundcloud.com/za6EkmqHUcjcxfSU6