ABOUT KRISTAE
Biography
Born in Minneapolis, I have always lived in the Midwest, my home being Omaha, Nebraska. A desire to become an artist started early on while painting at the kitchen table with my grandmother.
I consider myself an Abstract Expressionist influenced by artists Willem De Kooning, Helen Frankenthaler, Joan Mitchell and Hans Hoffman.
I move from one subject to the next: architectural, figural, landscape, or purely abstract. My process is tactile, intuitive, and flowing. Believing that art evokes emotion through color, I use rich mediums of oil paint, oil sticks, livestock markers, fabric dye, and encaustic wax on canvas and wood.
I view my studio as a sacred space: "It is my alone time when I construct a world as I want it to be. I feel vulnerable yet empowered while painting; when I feel strong, I am aware of my weaknesses, when I feel weak I grasp onto my strength."
Education/COLLECTIONS
Education:
Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree - Painting University of Nebraska, Omaha, NE 2002
Graduate Studies - Women's Art Institute _ Minneapolis College of Art and Design 2003-2005
Painting Marathon, Instructor Graham Nickson, Dean of New York Studio School of Art and Design 2010
Artist In Residency, Kimmel Art Center, Nebraska City, December 2013
Artist Inc. - Omaha Creative Institute, Omaha Nebraska Sept/Oct 2017
Associate of Arts Degree - Waldorf College Forest City, Iowa 1977
Collections:
Monroe Myer Institute, Omaha Ne
Touching Hearts at Home, Inc. Minneapolis, MN
Methodist Women’s Hospital, Omaha, Ne
Creighton University, Omaha, Ne
American Family Insurance, Omaha, Ne
Genoa Inc., Minneapolis, MN
Glendal Inc., Naples, Fla
The Nailshop, Omaha, Ne
Tethon 3D, Omaha, Ne
EXHIBITIONS
2026
Radial Arts Benefit, Omaha, Ne
2025
Biennial - Gallery 1516
Omaha, Ne
The Frame Service, Summer Show, Omaha, Ne
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Art Auction, Omaha, Ne
2024
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Art Auction, Omaha, Ne
The Frame Service, Omaha, Ne
2023
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Art Auction, Omaha, Ne
The Frame Service, Omaha, Ne Oct/Nov
2022
Gallery 1516, "Confluence" Unity Restored After Division, Omaha, Ne
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Art Auction, Omaha, Ne
2021
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Art Auction, Omaha, Nebraska - Oct
2020
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Art Auction, Omaha, Ne - Nov
2019
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Art Auction, Omaha, Ne - Oct
The Frame service "Summer Group Show" Omaha, Ne - June - Aug
2018
The Frame Service, Omaha, Ne June Summer Show
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Art Auction, Omaha, Ne - Oct
2017
The Frame Service "Holiday Show" Omaha, Nebraska - Dec
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Art Auction, Omaha, Ne - Nov
Hilliard Gallery, "10th Annual Human Form Show Kansas City, Missouri - May
2016
"Nebraska Rising" Bemis Center For Contemporary Arts, featured show,
June 17 to September 18, Omaha, Nebraska
**VOTED BEST GROUP EXHIBITION with the Omaha Entertainment & Arts Awards
Corning Center for Fine Arts, Corning, Iowa
2015
The Frame Service, "Freshly Cut" Mother/Daughter show Omaha, Ne - May - June
2014
Kimball Art Center Residency, Nebraska City, Nebraska - Dec
2013
Tyg-Art Gallery and Wine Bar, Denver, Colorado - Nov
Hilliard Gallery, 6th Annual Human Form Show, Kansas City, Missouri
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Art Auction, Omaha, Ne - Nov
2012
The Frame Service Summer Art Show, Omaha, Ne - June
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts, Art Auction, Omaha, Ne - Oct
2011
Hilliard Gallery 4th Annual Human Form Show, Kansas City, Missouri - May
Bemis Center for Contemporary Arts Art Auction, Omaha, Ne - Nov
Owner Avenue Gallery of Fine Art in Historic Dundee, Omaha, Ne 2002-2004