Artist Biography

Katie-Mai is a self-taught artist of English and Chinese heritage. Originally from the Cotswolds, UK, she currently lives in Denver, Colorado, with her husband, children, and corgi.

Working with a unique combination of oil and house paints, Katie-Mai creates minimalist paintings that focus on wildlife depicted void of their natural habitat. Her signature use of negative space creates a striking sense of calm, encouraging the viewer to engage with the animal without distraction, while her use of bold colours encourages hope and whimsy. Through her work, she strives to ignite a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world while raising awareness and support for global wildlife conservation projects.

Artist Statement

For me, the natural world has always been a source of wonder and magic, and it was the birth of my first child in 2022 that brought a new, unsettling clarity: the realization that the magnificent creatures we share the world with might not exist for the next generation to witness. This sparked a return to the canvas after a fifteen-year hiatus, fueling a passionate pursuit to document and defend wildlife through art.

In my most recent work, I strip away the animals’ habitat, making them void of distractions to isolate the subject. By rendering these animals at a deliberately small scale, I invite the viewer to ‘lean in’ to discover the intricate details. This intimacy creates a moment of calm engagement, forcing a meditation on the beauty, resilience, and man-made fragility of wildlife.

Ultimately, I aim to inspire a deep connection with these species, provoking thought about our shared responsibility to conserve their world for future generations.