Catriona Kirk is the third generation of her family to be involved in art, following in the footsteps of her father and grandmother.
Largely self-taught, Kirk has drawn inspiration from her travels to countries like India and France, and the many people — and animals — she’s met along the way.
Some of those works will be part of her “Animals & Angels” exhibit, which will be open to the public through Aug. 31 at Gallery Space in the Monroeville Public Library.
“I have traveled to many countries and found beauty everywhere that I have tried to incorporate into my art,” Kirk said. “From statues of Ganesh in Calcutta to the Abbey of Mont St. Michel in France. Other cultures fascinate me, and I enjoy integrating mythological and mystical elements into my work.”
Kirk said her work is influenced by surrealist artists like René Magritte and Salvador Dali, as well as Art Nouveau painters like Alphonse Mucha.
“Recently, I have found my inspiration closer to home in my daughters — in their strength and in my feelings of love and protectiveness towards them,” she said.
The collection at Gallery Space spans nearly all of Kirk’s adult life.
“My medium of choice is acrylic paints, and I use drawing pens to create a more ‘illustrated’ style,” she said. “I mostly paint on traditional canvases, but I have started experimenting with different surfaces, such as wood and tile, to get different effects and textures.”
The gallery is open from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Thursday, and from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Friday and Saturday. The library is at 4000 Gateway Campus Boulevard in Monroeville.
“The subject matter of my work ranges from everyday snapshots of life to the fantastical, but I hope that in every painting you can see a story,” Kirk said.
