Katie Hallahan

The person behind the work

Katie Hallahan is a visual artist who works primarily in oil paints and soft pastels. She believes in “slow living through art,” encouraging herself and others to linger upon the ordinary and mindfully observe the world around us. Katie creates energetic and colorful art that captures the spirit of her subjects—whether a landscape, unusual still life, or portrait. She particularly enjoys plein air painting as a way to connect with nature, explore new places, and study the personality of a specific time and place. She also finds joy in reinterpreting old family photographs by applying unique color palettes and an impressionistic flair to Polaroids and tin types from dusty family albums. Katie is a board member of the Piedmont Pastel Society, member of the American Impressionist Society, and a juried member of the Pastel Society of America. Accolades include numerous prizes in plein air festivals of the Southeast, being a selected artist for the 2023 Creative Greensboro Downtown Arts program, and awards in the 2024 Piedmont Pastel Society Member Exhibition and 2023 North Carolina Statewide Pastel Exhibition. Exhibitions include several juried shows, including the 2022 International Association of Pastel Societies Juried Exhibition and the 2023 PastelSociety of America Annual Exhibition.