Kathie Olivas
Contents
Biography
Kathie Olivas is a multi-media artist who resides in Tampa , FL and Albuquerque , NM . She received her bachelor's degree in visual arts from the University of South Florida in 1999 and is currently working on a book of her work and a line of limited edition vinyl toys.
Sugary treats, dichotomous dreamlands, and the cute and corrupted all find their way into the brief calm before the rebellion featured in Kathie Olivas's art. This series of paintings and custom figures focus on imperfect characters that parallel a vision of post-apocalyptic conformity, uniquely documenting their own stories in a mysterious brave new world.
The cast is inspired by early American portraiture that often depicted children as small adults in an idealized new land. They evoke a sense of temporality; childhood serves as a starting ground, a place where things begin. Children also personify "cuteness" as more of a representation of projected innocence. The comfort in this ideology comes into question when these sweet creatures have other ideas such as how to protect themselves or how would they be able to adapt if they chose to be independent. Once isolated in a war torn environment, they are forced to develop their own defense mechanisms. Parasitic Haze focuses on the ambiguity and fleeting moments surrounding the uprising. The unapologetic anti-heroes guide us through the mysterious lands questionably untouched by human destruction. A minimalist haze fogs what could be the illusion of this dreamland or what could possibly be the reality of destruction and decay after complete and utter annihilation. Their mutated limbs, empowered sidekicks, or improvised armor present a satirical look at how fear affects our sense of reality.
Solo Shows
These are solo shows by Kathie:
- Uninvited Guests - October 17 - November 19, 2008, My Plastic Heart NYC
Designed Toy Releases
These are toys designed by Kathie.
- Benny and Red Bird
- Scavengers
- Two Faced Hazel
- Big Sal
- Jack and Lucky with Brandt Peters
- Skelve
- Ultra Squid Girl with Brandt Peters
- Elizabeth
- Calliope Jackalope
- Mortimer the Mortician and Oliver the Bat Boy with Brandt Peters
- Wandering Misfits with Brandt Peters
- Clementine
- Pocket Sideshow
- Dark Harbor with Brandt Peters
- Lucy Curious
Toy Series Participation
These are toys Kathie has lent her design skills to.
- Care Bears - 6.5" "Birthday Bear Black", 2018
- Care Bears - 6.5" "Birthday Bear Pink", 2018
- Dunny - 3" Dunny Fatale Series, 2010
- Serv-O-Matics - Cosmic Lily, chase figure, 2009
- Dolbee - 5", 366 pieces, 2008
- Dunny - 3" Series 5, 2008
- Circus Punk - 16" Superboy with Flaw, 100 pieces, 2006
Customs
These are one-off, or very limited, figures by Kathie.
- Piece(s) for Winter Salon, 2017
- Night King - custom for Bats in the Belfry, 2017
- Piece(s) for Winter Salon, 2016
- "Encrusted Warrior" Bear head for Bear in Mind, 2016
- Piece(s) for Monsters and Misfits, 2016
- Piece(s) for Winter Salon, 2015
- Piece(s) for Bewitching 5, 2015
- Piece(s) for Winter Salon, 2014
- Pieces for Traveling Circus, 2014
- Piece(s) for Bewitching, 2014
- Skelve - custom for Conjuring Mischief, 2014
- Piece(s) for Winter Salon, 2013
- Pieces for Monsters and Misfits 3, 2013
- YHWH - custom for the YHWH Group Custom Show, 2013
- Pieces for Bewitching, 2013
- Piece(s) for Tiny Trifecta, 2013
- Fonzo - 6" "Golden Luchador" custom for Fonzo Love NY, 2013
- Piece(s) for Winter Salon, 2012
- Fonzo - 6" custom for the Fonzo Custom Show, 2012
- Pieces for Monsters and Misfits 2, 2012
- Pieces for Baby Tattooville, 2012
- Piece(s) for Lucha Libre, 2012
- Piece(s) for Le Carnaval des Spectres, 2012
- Piece(s) for Winter Salon, 2011/2012
- Swampy McSwamperton - custom for The Epic Adventures of Swampy McSwamperton, 2011
- Piece(s) for Monsters and Misfits, 2011
- Pieces for Bewitching, 2011
- Piece(s) for Vintage, Modern Narrative, 2011
- Benny and Red Bird - "Wind Up Benny" custom, 2011
- Piece(s) for Remedy, 2010
- Monsters for Monstoberfest, 2010
- Burgerbuns - custom for Funbuns, A Burgerbuns Custom Show, 2010
- Jack and Lucky - 7" "Gray Jack & Crystal Skull Lucky", 2010
- Jack and Lucky - 7" "Green Jack & Crystal Skull Lucky", 2010
- Jack and Lucky - 7" "Yellow Jack & Crystal Skull Lucky", 2010
- Fatima - Red Bird custom
- Fatima - custom
- Qee - 36" No3, with Brandt Peters, 2009
- Mega Munny - 16" Green Apple Bear for Nocturnal show, 2009
- Custom Stitch for the Stitch Experiment 626 Project Tour, 2008
- Benny & Red Bird - "Yellow Benny & Chocolate Red Bird" for Monster Art Rally, 2008
- "Hazel" for Noxious Fumes, 2008
- Mad L - 10" custom for the MadL Citizens show, 2008
- Piece for the SuperHero Art Exhibition, 2008
- Piece(s) for Crazy4Cult, 2008
- Labbit - 10" The Impersonator custom for Down the Bunny Hole, 2008
- Custom Hot Wheels VW Bus for the Toys show, 2008
- Munny - custom for the For Love of Munny show, 2007
- "Girl with Rabbit Ears" for the Inaugural Art Show, 2007
- Lefty - for the DIY Calamari show, 2007
- Piece(s) for Black Market, 2007
- Zliks - 19" Girl in Dog Suit, for the Attack of the Zliks show, 2007
- Qee - Baby Qee pair for the Love Hate show, 2007
- Piece(s) for Crazy4Cult, 2007
- Piece(s) for Vinyl Elements, 2007
- Gwin - Mega Gwin for the Mega Gwin Custom Show, 2007
- Monster for the Halloween Monster Mash, 2007
- Nade - custom for Operation Fragmentation, 2006
- Doughboy - for the Yeast Infection show, 2006
- Munny - custom for Save Huck, 2006
- Piece(s) for Silent Stalkers, 2006
- Piece(s) for Back in the Day, 2006
- Cheshire Cat - 8" custom for We're All Mad Here, 2006
- Piece(s) for The Chubby Bunny Show, 2006
- Munny - custom for Munny Show LA, 2005
- Circus Punks - custom for 100 Circus Punks Rule NYC, 2005
- Funny Club - 4" custom for The Funny Club Show, 2005