Award-winning artist Kim Abbati is originally from Chicago, IL, a graduate of The School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Traveling and taking workshops with artists she admires--Everett Raymond Kinstler, Clayton J. Beck III, Robert Liberace, Rose Frantzen, just to name a few--is her joy. While she lived in The Woodlands, TX with her husband and two children for over 16 years, she spent more than half her time involved in local art. From teaching art at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Conroe, developing home school art programs, serving as Artopoly Co-Chair for The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival, and two years as President of The Woodlands Art League, she found that art and community naturally go hand in hand. Her work has been part of numerous projects including Habitat for Humanity, The Woodlands High School Art Trust, The Woodlands High School Orchestra Booster Club, and The Woodlands Art League.

Since returning to Chicago Kim has become an Artist Member at The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Arts. She is also active with Chicago Pastel Painters, Plein Air Painters Chicago, and has taken on the role of IL Ambassador for The Portrait Society of America.

Kim's artwork varies from representational to abstract using a variety of mediums, though her passion is for portraiture.

Artist's Statement

My love affair with art began as a child, the very first time I walked into The Art Institute of Chicago. The air I breathed was magical, and I never wanted to go home. It was truly an honor to go to school there and walk thru the halls daily, feeling that it was my real home. I have always been drawn to figurative work. At three, my first showing was a drawing of a stick figure girl on roller skates hung in my parents bedroom. A Renoir Exhibit at AIC in the late 90's really spoke to me. There were many previously unseen portraits on display and words that I will never forget, "Painting a portrait is like painting the divine..." Beauty and joy, connection to the soul came thru the paint, physically real, divinely painted, by the artist's hand. I do feel that connection, and I look for that meeting/greeting to convey in my work. Portrait artist Alice Neel called herself a "Soul Collector." I like to think of myself as a "Soul Connector."

Kim Abbati - Longing