Cat Armistead
She/her
Instagram: @carmistead.art
www.catherinearmistead.com
Terra Firma (2022)
Handmade paper with embedded mica, rusted steel, secondhand beads
This piece combines wire weaving, rust generation, papermaking, and adornment. Each new element, especially the rusting metal, brought a sense of irreversible change. Wire weaving and papermaking are meditative for me, helping to process personal changes while I worked.
Artist Statement
I’m a mixed media artist creating sculptures, paintings, and jewelry with metal, paint, handmade paper, found objects, recycled materials, and mica. My work focuses on movement and often disguises plastics as natural elements or transforms styrofoam into precious-looking stones. I aim to layer meanings and explore overlooked materials, drawing inspiration from the slow carving of water and the resilient patterns of lichen, moss, and mycelium. I investigate how these pioneering organisms might reclaim or disguise materials that usually end up in landfills. My practice revolves around the concept of "intimate immensity," where small-scale pieces feel vast and large-scale works evoke intimacy. I strive to create abstract art that is intricate yet accessible, allowing viewers to interpret and connect with my work on their own terms.
Artist Bio
Cat is a mixed media artist from Charlotte, North Carolina, now based in Boston. Her work, inspired by musical rhythms and topographic patterns, includes layered sculptures, recycled plastic cocoon structures, and unique jewelry. A graduate of the Tufts University and SMFA dual degree program, Cat has also studied at Penland School of Crafts, Haystack Mountain School of Crafts, and MassArt. She works from Humphreys Street Studios and is the lead organizer for Dorchester Open Studios. Cat has exhibited across New England, New York, and North Carolina. Recently, she received grants from the New England Foundation for the Arts and the Mass Cultural Council for a show co-curated with Franklin Marval and Michaela Flatley at the Local Hand.