kate hooray osmond

In her bright and graphic depictions of people in their everyday places and spaces, Charleston painter Kate Hooray Osmond celebrates community, connection and optimism.

Artist: Osmond was born in Washington, DC, and grew up outside the city. She studied art at St. Mary’s College of Maryland and earned an MFA from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA).

Osmond has been a professional artist since 2018.

Company/studio: Kate Hooray Osmond has a home studio in West Ashley, a suburb of Charleston, SC.

In the beginning: In college, Osmond trained as a metal sculptor, primarily working in welded steel.

She later transferred to painting when she wanted to explore the relationships among colors, and never looked back.

“There is a huge enjoyment in paintings in that it is pure illusion,” said Osmond. “I can explore themes of space, time, connection, anything … because it’s only mud smeared on a surface.”

Art & materials: Bright, colorful paintings with precise line work that depict figures and architectural spaces that people encounter every day. Also paintings of bugs and flowers ($250 to $20,000 for a 9-foot by 6-foot painting).

Materials primarily include acrylic, oil paints and gold leaf. However she does experiment with other materials such as used objects and holographic vinyl.

What’s popular: “My work resonates with people because it fully embraces color and allows the imagination to flow, regardless of the viewer’s age,” Osmond said. “I take imagery from my life: places, people, flowers, insects, etc. and communicate them in a way that brings connection.”

Must-have tools: Her pallet knife.

“I spend so much time mixing color,” said Osmond. “When I am without my favorite one it is as if I am missing my pointer finger on my writing hand. I can’t paint without it.”

Favorite color: Prussian blue. “It is such a generous color that is complements almost any color,” she said.

Inspirations: Lately, Japanese woodblock prints and landscapes by Scottish artists from this past century.

“Both genres have such a way of understanding and pairing color,” said Osmond. “I hope to figure out their choices one day.”

Special commission: Work (one painting or more) for the Medical University of South Carolina’s (MUSC) nursing wing.

“It means the world to me that my work might be useful to the individuals who see it at MUSC,” said Osmond. “I try to talk about hope with my work.”

Recent awards/honors:

Visiting Artist at The Gibbes Museum of Art, Charleston. 2025.
Outstanding Achievement Award in Abstract from American Women Artists. 2024.
Project Grant from the South Carolina Arts Commission for a Residency outside of Mexico City at Cobertizo. Winter 2024.

Recent projects:

A series of paintings that place people in their everyday environments, but with expressions of color.
Small paintings of dead bugs when she finds them.

What’s next: Exhibit at Contemporary Art Museum of Raleigh (CAM Raleigh). 2025 (TBA).

Where to buy: