Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Kat Reilly. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, Kat thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. We’d love to hear about when you first realized that you wanted to pursue a creative path professionally.

I always knew I was a creative person. As a kid, I continually invented stories, made collages and found any way I could to express myself. But to be honest, I didn’t think of myself as someone who would be a PROFESSIONAL creative. Why? I didn’t think I was good enough at the traditional ways people are usually creative. I wasn’t exceptionally great at drawing. I liked my writing but I rarely shared it because I didn’t think other people would get it. And, because I was so good at other academic subjects, creativity was never something I saw as the ONLY thing I could and should do. Sure, it made me happy, but I didn’t see how I could make a career out of it. I guess I still believed the “starving artist” myth.

I let creativity simmer like a stew while I worked on building a career that felt more socially acceptable. As someone who struggled to feel like I fit in, this was always something that was important to me in my younger years. Luckily, I did fall into an “impressive” profession you could consider “creative:” a UX designer for websites and mobile apps. And yes, for a while it did scratch the creative itch and I completely immersed myself in it. But, as any person who creates on behalf of a company can tell you, you don’t own the entire process or output. Everything you create has to be run by other people who have both opinions and the authority to influence what you make. After a few years of this, I realized I needed create things that I could completely own.

So, I started making art with paper in my off-hours. Why paper? Because it was accessible, familiar and I didn’t need a lot of space to do it. I started making a fun “fan art” project to blow off some steam and got brave enough to make an Instagram account to share it. A colleauge of mine saw it and connected me with their friend who was organizing a group exhibit. The organizer loved my piece and invited me to participate. I was shocked. I hadn’t been in an exhibit through college (and at those, I always had a guaranteed spot!). But now, my art had to stand on its own without the safety of any institution validating it. It was scary and exhilerating.

The experience & warm reception from that first exhibit encouraged me to make more art. I liked participating in group shows and started looking for open calls in my area. I spotted one that was celebrating the life of Frida Kahlo, an artist I have long admired. I felt a big pull to apply, so I spent a few weeks creating a piece to submit (a paper miniature of Frida’s prosthetic leg enshrined in marigolds) and sent in my application. I didn’t expect to get in, since this exhibit was being held in a legitimate and well-known gallery. But I did get accepted! I was thrilled, dropped off my humble little work, and excitedly told my partner, family and some close friends about the news.

When the time came to attend the opening, I tried to manage expecations. My parents had flown in to attend—they’ve always been so supportive!—and I repeatedly told them that this exhibit had over 100 artists and my piece would likely be in a back corner. They didn’t care and honestly, neither did I. I was just so thrilled to be part of the exhibit and to see what other artists had created to honor Frida.

The moment I entered the exhibit is one I’ll remember for the rest of my life, because it is unquestionably the moment I realized I could pursue art more voraciously and seriously than I had dreamed. My piece wasn’t in a back corner. It was front and center when you first entered, beneath a marquee with the exhibit title. Next to my piece were two dots: one that meant I had won a prize and one that meant it had already been sold. My partner, Omid, stood next to me while I took that all in and cried with me as it all sunk in. My piece meant something. It touched someone. It was art. I was on a high the entire evening and couldn’t believe that I was being recognized among so many amazing and talented artists. But the most amazing moment came towards the end of the night, when I met a young woman who also wore a prosthetic leg. She thanked me for showing people a side of Frida that is often unknown, and she told me how much she felt “seen” by looking at my piece. This was the magic right here. The fact that something I made out of little bits of paper could make someone feel so strongly was humbling and wonderful. That alone fueled me more than anything I had created at work. That’s when I knew I wanted to create more art and, if I was lucky enough, make my living from it.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Paper and cardboard have been my favorite creative materials since childhood. As a child, tearing it apart and glueing it back together into something new unleashed my imagination, keeping me occupied for hours on end. As I got older, I realized that I love using paper products in my work because they are both resilient and delicate, very much like we humans are.

My current work mainly consists of upcycled paper materials: for example, paper that is sourced from junk mail and cardboard from online delivery boxes. Using these “quick to discard” materials in my art, I reflect on the things that really do matter to us and spark joy. Sometimes this is a literal object or person, and other times it’s a memory or feeling.

Nothing goes to waste when I’m making my art. I also sell jewelry and other consumer goods made from scraps of larger artworks. I love selling these at craft fairs and my online shop to further share my enthusiasm for upcycling and inspiring others to view the beautiful potential of everything around them. In the future, I’d love to teach anyone who is interested how to use everyday materials to tap into their own creativitiy and have an outlet for self-expression.

As I become more confident in my artistic process, I have begun to dig more into the “whys” behind my work, especially in relation to the ways art has been an outlet, companion and therapy for me. I’m fascinated by the relationship between creativity and mental health, particularly in regards for how the two enhance and hinder our progress as professionals. One of my next goals is to start coaching artists who are struggling to meet their artistic goals, help them gain confidence and get out of their own way.

For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?

Learning more about myself through the process. When I’m creating, I feel like my truest self. I spend a lot of time journaling and reflecting on that fact. What is it about the act of art-making that makes me feel so alive and genuine? Why does it feel so natural to me whereas other things do not? I feel like I’ve grown up with my art and have become the person I am today because of it.

What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?

I imagine a lot of artists have said this, but it is worth repeating: the number of followers or interactions you get on social media does not determine the worth of yourself or your work. I know so many amazing, successful artists that don’t have a large following. At first, simply the fact that they existed comforted me. Then I started to realize why: because they are not depending on social media as the only means of getting their art out into the world. They’re doing a number of things, and posting to social media is only one of them.

For me, the quality of connections I make with people have mattered far more than any number. There are so many ways to make these connections both online and in person. I highly encourage any artist to focus more on authentically presenting themselves and attracting those who share the same vibe and value set. Those are your people and will help you find opportunities and make sales.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.katreilly.art/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thepaperkat/