Katherine Gailer (aka Katira) is a Colombian artist currently based in Melbourne, exploring cultural identity, the natural environment, women's empowerment, magical realism, and contemporary design. Her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Arts Management degrees from RMIT University were both awarded with honours. Her practice includes large-scale mural painting, oil painting, illustration, and music.
As part of her creative expression, she examines the complex relationships between vulnerability and strength, vulnerability, and empowerment. Her dream-like compositions celebrate resilience and liberation and clamour for an urgent need to restore the invisible fabric that weaves together humans and nature. Her work challenges social structures and reclaims the space for diverse cultural expression and women at the forefront of social change.
Rediscovering a sense of the sacred and revisiting our ancient past embody the driving force for the development of her artworks.
Gailer is a multi-award-winning artist. Awards include 2018 People’s Choice Award at Corangamarah Art Prize, 2018 Packer’s Art Prize (Red Rock Regional Gallery, Victoria) and 2017 ROI Art Prize (Melbourne).