Kim Rae Taylor

Kim Rae Taylor
West Palm Beach, Florida, USA

STATEMENT

In my collage and assemblage practice, I integrate drawing and paint media, along with fabric and scrap paper to make the surfaces textural and purposeful. I’ve been using repurposed art books, security envelopes, and other ephemera for two different collage-based projects. The first draws from the canon of Western art history using discarded books to interrogate the ways in which women have been excluded as artist and situated as subject. The deconstruction and repurposing of outdated Art History and art instruction books is meant to create a dialogue addressing the reductive ways in which women have been narrowly defined by visual culture. “Security Unfolding” is the second project, utilizing discarded security envelopes I collected over a two-year period. By repurposing these commonplace materials, each piece becomes a visual metaphor for the often-hidden struggles associated with various forms of societal insecurity. Unfolding the envelopes reveals the intricate patterns originally designed to safeguard privacy. Once transformed into mixed-media collage works, these envelopes contrast sharply with their initial purpose, reflecting the widening gap between abundance and deprivation. This artistic approach not only exposes the pervasive nature of everyday insecurity, but also invites the viewer to contemplate their own role in creating a more equitable and supportive society.

BIO

Kim Rae Taylor is a South Florida-based visual artist and educator whose mixed media work explores themes drawn from history, gender and the environment. She has taught for the University of Cincinnati for almost two decades, and also leads art workshops within the community. Taylor earned her MFA from the College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning (DAAP) at the University of Cincinnati, and BFA from the College of Fine Arts at The University of Texas at Austin. Additional studies include the University of Georgia in Cortona, Italy, and the Metáfora Center for Art Therapy Studies in Barcelona, Spain. Her diverse career includes roles as a background artist for animated cartoons, an illustrator, a graphic designer, and product developer. She has been an artist in residence at Taipei Artist Village in Taiwan, Red Gate in Beijing, Cill Rialaig in County Kerry, Ireland, and the Armory Art Center in West Palm Beach. Her work has been exhibited in various venues in the United States and abroad.

ARTIST CONTACT

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www.kimraetaylor.com

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