Kate Davidson

Originally from New England, Kate moved first to the west coast and then the Midwest, graduating from the University of Chicago where she studied religion and political science. Looking to move back to the east coast after several years working in Illinois, she found a job as a caretaker on a public land trust off the coast of Maine and unexpectedly fell in love with building things with her hands. She began working in historical restoration carpentry, eventually shifting to fine furniture and technical woodworking.

Her current MFA research explores the way we perceive, make sense of, and connect with our surroundings. In other words, what does it really mean to know a place? Drawing on materials such as wood, textiles, paper, and imaging to create interactive and site-specific installation, she looks at how water and light interact with our environment and change our experience of space, from fleeting and unexpected effects to long-term material shifts. Besides creating sculptural pieces, Kate’s practice also celebrates the importance of community in craft and art education.

When she’s not in the woodshop, she’s usually out walking and cloud-watching around Madison, or knitting at home with her cat, Tinsey.