Kate Houchins
Texas Artist Collected Globally
Geometry Dreaming Freely
with Line, Texture and Pattern
Why "Kate's Branch?"
- In 2010, I became orphaned at age 59 after losing both my parents and both my siblings from my family of origin. At my brother's memorial, an aunt commented, "You must feel like the last leaf on your branch."
- I suffered tremendous grief and loneliness from his loss followed by a difficult divorce over the next two years. My spiritual family, my art practice, and a new, fulfilling marriage filled the gap and helped my healing process as I discovered words from an ancient book describing a "man who branched out from where he was."
- "Kate's Branch" was named and launched in 2014 though my art practice has long sustained me through many life experiences since the mid-90's when I lived and worked in my beloved Taos, NM as a weaver. Art repeatedly healed my heart after my then husband, William Word, passed away in 2023. My endless passion for creativity motivates me daily to live life beyond the grieving process while managing chronic physical pain, whether I paint, teach, exhibit, or work digitally in Photoshop or on Social Media platforms.
why I do this
- Not only do I want to change my little corner of the world by creating art that is safe, appealing, loving and inclusive, but I help my collectors and students change their inner world and tame the chaos of everyday life. Our world is constantly evolving, and I am not alone in my humanity. Sometimes grief and loss are unbearable to endure, but Art and artmaking are good for the soul.
- Whether by handwritten note cards or artwork for a wall, building trust and forming deeper connections with others will always be my primary goal for "Kate's Branch."
- I want to make art that encourages people to believe in love again, to find others approachable, available and safe.
- I want my art to help restore your faith in humanity by being our authentic selves.
- I want to create art that uplifts a grieving heart and inspires someone to hope for a brighter day tomorrow. The road is challenging, but all things are possible when one knows they're not traveling alone.
- There's more "branching out" in the Tree of Life to live...Let's do it together!
(c) 2025 My husband, Oscar Houchins
Artist Statement
- The role of my canvas is a geometric theater of colorful contrasts, emotions, ideas, textures and shapes, but movement is paramount. After building a rich surface texture, I paint many layers of cool and warm colors to build visual interest for my viewers and collectors.
- Though some of my methods are calculated, I welcome intuition, spontaneity and accidental discoveries. I find inspiration for balancing these contrasts in modern architecture, nature, textiles, and in my smaller mixed media collages. I intentionally juxtapose organic shapes with geometric lines and grids, and admittedly, I never know where the elements may wander.
- My go-to shape is always a circle symbolizing God’s supernatural, eternal presence amid our human tensions. My newest interest is the triangle and it's intersections with circles as I create more visible contradictions, as shown here.
FRACTURED I; SOLD
Biography
- Since childhood, Kate Browning Houchins found art to be a great friend.
- A native Texan and a product of the 60’s, Kate grew up on a family cotton farm and was influenced by Civil Rights, Women’s Rights, and the Psychedelic Movement. This “flower child” loved color and ALL things beautiful. Grit and faith melded the family history with her future making Kate a woman of many contrasts…a country girl living in the city, a mountain lover now living by the coast.
- Kate Houchins (formerly Word) has won numerous awards in her local community for Mixed Media including BEST OF SHOW, 2021 All Membership Show, a 1st place for her alcohol inks on Yupo paper in the Mixed Media category, and her abstract painting, “Finding the Lost Coins” won a 2nd place in the Abstract category in 2018. Last year, Kate’s largest painting, “Ignite” was sold at a charity auction benefiting New Life Refuge Ministries which seeks to end child sex trafficking. Her work has been published in Art Design Consultant’s BLINK ART RESOURCE in 2019, 2020 and 2022. Kate exhibited a solo body of work from January 7-Feb 19, 2022 at the Art Center of Corpus Christi where she garnered 13 RED DOTS and most recently in Santa Fe, NM at ART santa fe with ADC Fine Art Consultants...another 7 RED DOTS!
- Most recently, Kate won a 1st Place Award for her acrylic mixed media collage titled, "Orbit."
- Kate Houchins' art is collected across America and as far away as Kyoto, Japan and Cologne, Germany.
Chalice IV (c)2025 Mixed media on gallery wrap canvas; Available at ADC Fine Art, Cincinnati, OH
Passion
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I paint for my enjoyment and I hope you like my artwork, too. If you want to purchase artwork for your spaces, I can help you in person or by phone with your credit or debit card.
Studio visits are by appointment. I now live in Corpus Christi, TX. Please call, I'd love to connect with you over coffee.
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Red Dot Blog
by Jason Horejs
A Theater of Color and Light:
The Art of Kate (Word) Houchins
September 3, 2022
More Testimonials
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More Testimonials
" Your work was the hit of the show! Everyone would stop by and say how much they loved your work. We can’t wait to sell more! Have a great week!"
Cassandra Pennington, ADC Gallery Director, Cincinnati, OH
" Wonderful pieces Kate, I love your style. The mystery of which layer is on which level makes one search and think for a long time while still admiring the overall composition and harmonious colours."
Claudia Brasse, Germany
"Your art is fresh water to a thirsty soul."
Luis R. Cabrera, Guatemala
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Let's discover the joy and mystery
of making art together!