We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Emily-Kate. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Emily-Kate below.

Emily-Kate, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Do you wish you had started sooner?

My mother always said I came out of the womb drawing. I drew before I could write words. As
soon as I could write my name I started to sign my last name on all my drawings because that is
what Picasso did and I just knew that I would be a famous artist just like him one day. I was born
into my family’s folksinging group and did not enjoy performing especially folk music so I started
drawing people in the audience and by age 6 I was selling caricatures during our shows, people
would line up to get dawings from me and it would get me out of performing (the money I earned
was supposed to go towards my art school tuition when I grew up). I thought I had started my
career as a real artist. After art school I started a cooperative art gallery in Philadelphia with
fellow graduates and while I had a 9-5 job in art supplies I was working and showing my work
regularly. I moved onto photo journalism and documented photos of Hip Hop and Rock show
across Philadelphia and New York. I was still doing it, working as a creative, getting paid for my
work. After I got married and started my family creating art with my kids was a daily event, I
started to put my own work on the back burner and stopped showing my work and creating as
much.

Fast forward to when I was diagnosed with breast cancer and recovering from my bilateral
masectomy. I was stuck on my couch in both physical and emotional pain and all they tell you to
do is walk your fingers up and down the wall to exercise. One of my sisters suggested that I
start drawing, Art was always is an escape that takes me away from my present, my past and
my future. When I was drawing I didn’t think about my breast cancer, I simply lived in the
moment. The drawings helped me express how I was feeling emotionally and helped me push
through my physical pain. I ended up filling 6 sketchbooks with words and drawings expressing
whatever I was feeling that day. Over the years after my breast cancer recovery I continued to
make art but again life kind of took over and it was not in my every day life.
Well, about 8 months ago I started making the time to make my art again. I had been
repurposing vintage denim clothes and fell in love with denim, and I had a ton of old jeans lying
around so I started making sculptures out of denim. I have always made art out of whatever
materials I had at hand and since I also had shelves of shipping boxes for our online
e-commerce business I cut them up to make the “skeletons” or armatures for my sculptures and
used denim as the “skin”. I recently moved into an Artspace Live/Work building and I have not
looked back. As soon as I got into the space I started to take advantage of every opportunity
available and agreed to have a solo show. Ideas just came flooding out of me and my work just
came together. I recently spoke to a friend I went to art school with and she said the work looks
like my senior show from 1989 but fully realized. I really feel like the show I just put up it literally
my life’s work. So, to answer the question. Do I wish I had started my creative career sooner or
later?

I can harp on wasted years not pursuing my art but I have three incredible, creative children and
I strongly feel like this is my time, this is what I was always meant to be, just like I knew when i
was 6 years old and its ok that Its happening now when I am 56. Bisa Butler is a huge
inspiration for me because of how she has taken fiber art to a high art and she, like me had a
whole life, raised kids and now her art career is taking off. That gives me hope.
I currently have my solo show up until March 9th entitled “She Was Brave”. All the pieces in my
show are based on my breast cancer journey. My original idea was to create a show that is a
walk through my sketchbooks, I was going to show pages from my sketchbooks but I realized
my work has evolved so much since then (that was 12 years ago) so I started creating pieces
based on some of the drawings and soon I was surrounded by a new family of “denim people”
from far away look “cute” and inviting but on closer inspection, the viewer sees that they have
scars where their breasts would be, threads busting out from the seams, with words expressing
my pain similar to the way I incorporated my words in my drawing in my sketchbooks.
The show is a personal tour through my mind, showcasing all the ups and downs of my journey.
This collection is all about the strength and softness we all carry, and how we push past pain.
Every piece here has a story, capturing the emotional rollercoaster I rode through my bilateral
mastectomy and beyond. Even after 12 years, I’m still on that ride, dealing with all the emotional
and physical twists and turns.

My “denim people are a quirky bunch, part of this unique exhibit I’ve put together. At first glance,
they’re pretty charming but if you lean in closer, you’ll see they’re not just cute—they’re deep,
with layers of emotion stitched right in. Each piece is like a peek into my world, with scars and
all, represented by this patchwork of recycled denim and vintage fabric scraps. It’s not just art
hanging here; it’s my story of fighting, healing, and creating.
The focal point of my whole show is The Pain, an installation featuring a “Cactus Lady” made of
denim completely covered in green thread, with the words “The pain is relentless and
all-consuming, making me acutely aware of every nerve in my body. I feel like a cactus, not just
because of the sharp, spiking agony, but also because I feel so isolated in this pain, prickly and
unapproachable.” painted on the wall. It was inspired by a drawing I did right after my bilateral
mastectomy. I was taking Oxycodone for the pain and I hated the way it made me feel so I
decided to stop taking it, that was a bad idea, I was in so much pain I felt like a cactus and drew
myself as one. This piece has been the one that everyone who walks through the show wants to
talk to me about. So many people have related to it and interpreted their own pain in my words.
That is what art is all about.

I am also going to publish two books:
one entitled “ Draw It Out” which will feature the pages from the sketchbooks I filled during my
breast cancer journey
and the other Featuring the photos I took of live acts like The Roots, The Fugees, Biggie Smalls,
Nas, Bad Brains, and many more
The release of these books will coincide with more shows.
I am on a mission, I really believe the world needs to see my work, It’s my time

Emily-Kate, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I feel like I covered a lot of this when I answered the last question (I tend to talk a lot)
I have always created, I was born an artist and I am not “me” if I am not making some art of
some kind. I have gotten through every obstacle in my life by expressing it in my art. When I
was in art school a visiting artist suggested I was crazy because my sculptures were very
disturbing. I said:”I would be crazy if I didn’t make this” I see art as my escape, my sanctuary.
It’s where I shed the constraints of time and let my creativity run free.
Art has always been a driving force in my life but somehow my life took over and I lost sight of
myself. I have always told my children if you do something with passion you will succeed so now
I am following my passion full-force. As soon as I started sharing my work with the world
opportunities started opening up for me. The way people are connecting to the messages in my
current work drives me to create more.
I will continue to create sculptures made of recycled denim, making a whole world of my “denim
people”. I plan to have my show travel to galleries in other cities, and eventually museums. This
is my time to be the artist I always knew I would be.
Outside of my fine art, I repurpose vintage denim clothes creating unique, custom clothes that
are an extension of my art, and love to do commission pieces for clients. I also do illustrations
and I am currently working on a 3-D illustration for a poetry book that incorporates drawing and
my denim work and would love to do more commissions like that. Also, stay tuned for my two
books and coinciding shows. I plan on pursuing grant opportunities I looking forward to what the
future holds for me.
I am most proud of finally committing to my art and creating my latest body of work. I feel like
everything I have done in my life, my experiences, my art has led me to where I am right now.
You can see my work here https://sites.google.com/view/emilykateart

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

My journey through resilience is deeply intertwined with my art, a narrative that has unfolded in
the most unexpected ways. It all began with a personal health crisis—my battle with breast
cancer, which led to a bilateral mastectomy and subsequent reconstruction attempts. This
period was marked by intense physical and emotional pain, a challenge I hadn’t fully anticipated
despite knowing the road to recovery would be tough.
In those early, pain-filled days post-surgery, I found solace in drawing. It was a way to let out the
emotions that were too complex to articulate in words. My first drawing, a poignant depiction of
myself with a heart-shaped void where my breasts once were, was a cathartic release that
brought me to tears. This moment of vulnerability was a turning point, highlighting the
therapeutic power of art in my life.
Drawing became my refuge, helping me navigate through the waves of pain and emotional
turmoil. It wasn’t just an emotional outlet; it also became a form of physical therapy, aiding in the
recovery of my arms and fingers. This practice of sketching through my pain became a ritual,
one that I carried with me to every hospital visit. My sketchbook and pencils were as essential
as any medical supply, offering both comfort and a means to connect with others. Nurses,
doctors, and orderlies would often stop by to see my latest work, a small but meaningful
acknowledgment of my journey.
Fast forward 12 years, and the chronic pain from failed reconstruction attempts still lingers. Yet,
this pain has transformed into a source of inspiration for my latest body of work, which I consider
my best yet. It’s a testament to everything I’ve overcome, a vibrant illustration of resilience that
speaks to the power of expression through adversity. My art has not only been a companion
through my darkest times but has also become a beacon of hope and strength, both for myself
and those who encounter it.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

My creative journey is driven by a powerful mission—to demonstrate that it is never too late.
While working on my latest body of work, I grappled with the fear of making mistakes and the
pressure of reaching a wider audience. My primary goal is to share my art with as many people
as possible, not solely for financial gain, but to offer a source of solace and connection. I aspire
to use my art as a medium to express my experiences, with the hope of aiding others in their
own struggles. By presenting my art and sharing my story, I aim to provide a sense of comfort
and support to those facing their own challenges, helping them navigate through their pain and
find resilience.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://sites.google.com/view/emilykateart
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ekniskeyart/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100094156134982
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emily-kate-niskey-26853a16/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/EmilyKateNiskey