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Kat Quay- Metro Detroit Artist

@katquay

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Here’s a closer look at the 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 feature in this month’s 𝘛𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 Magazine’s Fall 2026 Awards Issue!

Thanks again to 𝘛𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 Editor Ana Calhoun and Managing Editor Monica Cavazos for the inclusion, and Andi Harris for connecting us.

It’s so exciting to have my work included among the Texas-based projects of so many incredible architects and designers.

Article Text Below:

“Artist Kat Quay’s 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, a new permanent installation at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, layers perforated metal, steel framing, and semi-translucent dimensional forms to create a moiré effect as travelers pass by. Drawing on Quay’s background in technology and Big Data, the work uses the binary logic of weaving as a bridge between analog and digital systems. Quay’s first permanent public artwork , 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 reflects Austin’s evolving identity at the intersection of technology and creative culture. The work was commissioned by Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment’s Art in Public Places program in collaboration with Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Credit: Kat Quay, 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, installed at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Photo by Adam Smith of Synecdoche Design, Detroit MI.”

#katquay #spatialweaving #texasart #ausairport #austinart

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I’m thrilled to share that my AUS Airport installation 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 was featured in 𝘛𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 Magazine’s Fall 2026 Awards Issue! It’s an honor to have my work included among the Texas-based projects of so many incredible architects and designers.

Many thanks to 𝘛𝘦𝘹𝘢𝘴 𝘈𝘳𝘤𝘩𝘪𝘵𝘦𝘤𝘵 Editor Ana Calhoun and Managing Editor Monica Cavazos for the inclusion, Andi Harris for connecting us, and Adam Smith for capturing the work!

Article Text Below:

“Artist Kat Quay’s 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, a new permanent installation at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport, layers perforated metal, steel framing, and semi-translucent dimensional forms to create a moiré effect as travelers pass by. Drawing on Quay’s background in technology and Big Data, the work uses the binary logic of weaving as a bridge between analog and digital systems. Quay’s first permanent public artwork , 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨 reflects Austin’s evolving identity at the intersection of technology and creative culture. The work was commissioned by Austin Arts, Culture, Music, and Entertainment’s Art in Public Places program in collaboration with Austin-Bergstrom International Airport.

Credit: Kat Quay, 𝘚𝘱𝘢𝘵𝘪𝘢𝘭 𝘞𝘦𝘢𝘷𝘪𝘯𝘨, installed at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport. Photo by Adam Smith of Synecdoche Design, Detroit MI.”

#katquay #spatialweaving #texasart #ausairport #austinart

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It’s Wednesday, Let’s Dance!

I’m sharing a 360 perspective of “The Shedding (Detroit)” so people experiencing my work digitally get a better sense of what it’s like to view the installation in person. Freestanding at the center of the room, the installation creates a shifting visual field in which light, intentional depth, and pattern interact to produce a moiré effect, an optical phenomenon that causes the surface to appear in motion as viewers pass by. The layered construction of perforated steel and spatial depth evokes both the “shed” formation found in weaving and the interference patterns often perceived as “errors” on digital screens, reframing these visual disruptions as generative and perceptual experiences.

Many thanks to @stephen_marchio and @timmj for humoring me and providing the 💪 to make this reel happen.

📸 by Tim Johnson

#katquay #detroitartist #detroitart #sculpture #metalart

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FJC BOARD HIGHLIGHT: KAT QUAY

This past weekend, Founders Junior Council board member and Detroit–based artist Kat Quay presented The Shedding (Detroit) at @season.contemporary , presented by @nikpencegallery

Working at the intersection of sculpture, technology, and spatial perception, Kat creates immersive installations that blur the boundaries between physical and virtual environments. The Shedding (Detroit) brought that practice to life at an ambitious scale, made possible through collaboration with Detroit-based artists, fabricators, and creative partners.

Kat’s practice extends far beyond Detroit. She has exhibited nationally and internationally, participated in residencies at MASS MoCA, A-Z West, SOMA, and Atlantic Center for the Arts, and was nominated for the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Biennial Award. Her work has also been selected for MIT Media Lab and NASA’s Earthlings project, sending artwork into Low-Earth orbit. Also when you step into Austin- Bergstrom International airport west gate , you’ll see her 48ft wide by 12ft installation Spatial Weaving!

We’re proud to highlight the incredible artists and cultural leaders who make up Founders Junior Council , Kat Quay.

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Leading into the Season Fair, I had the pleasure of speaking with writer Roopa Chauhan @paris2detroit . Our conversation ranged from our backgrounds, politics, life post 9-11, and of course, art. I’ve returned several times this past weekend to the part of our discussion where I shared about the recent completion of my first permanent public artwork, “Spatial Weaving” at the Austin-Bergstrom International Airport in Austin, Texas.

Roopa asked how I felt as an artist having artwork on display in a public space where it isn’t revered the same way as on a gallery or museum wall, as though it’s almost taken for granted. My knee jerk response was, “I’m totally fine with that, and I hope someday that art is prevalent enough for everyone to take it for granted.”

As an artist, I’ve always strongly believed in democratic access to art and recognized early on the significance of creating public artworks that people can unexpectedly encounter in their daily lives. I don’t believe one should solely experience art through intentional encounters or institutional visits. I hope one day that art is so publicly widespread that viewing it is no longer a privilege, but rather becomes a standard backdrop of daily life. 📸 @breannwhite

#katquay #publicart #spatialweaving #detroitartist #ausairport

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This past weekend was a whirlwind! I’m so grateful to Amani and Aleiya of Olu & Company for bringing Season Contemporary to life. The camaraderie of participants was unmatched and an incredible demonstration of Detroit’s support for the art and design community. Many thanks to Nik Pence for trusting in my vision and presenting my newly completed artwork, “The Shedding (Detroit)” for Nik Pence Gallery’s first fair and Avie Linden for representing the piece/my vision so whole-heartedly. I’m also lucky to have Andi of Haus of Harris in my corner for many items including last minute copyediting, James Quay for always saving the day, and last but not least, Alex of Alex Drew & No One and Stephen of Marchio Standard for making it happen.

#katquay #seasonfair #nikpencegallery #detroitart #detroitartist

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The road to creating The Shedding (Detroit), my new installation presented by Nik Pence Gallery at Season Contemporary Fair involved planning and collaboration. From working with Alex Drew and No One to create renderings and production drawings, cutting at Troy Laser, fabrication with Marchio Standard, delivery to and installation at The Shepherd with Pence Fine Art Services, to final display with Nik Pence Gallery; sculpture at this scale is a team sport. I’m grateful to all my Detroit-based collaborators for their support, and to the Season Contemporary Fair team led by Amani Olu for creating an incredible event that underscores Detroit’s significant presence in contemporary art.

#katquay #seasonfair #nikpencegallery #detroitart #detroitartist

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Coming soon: my new installation, “The Shedding (Detroit)” presented by Nik Pence Gallery, will be debuting during the Season Fair at The Shepherd from September 11-13!

Some final details are being completed and then it will head out for install on Thursday.

#katquay #katquayartist #seasonfair #detroitart #seasonfairdetroit

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So looking forward to being in conversation with @joannetwin and @katquay this Saturday at @nikpencegallery 🙌

Join us in the gallery at 3pm for this talk and to catch the exhibition before it closes next week.

Saturday, August 15, 3pm
Nik Pence Gallery
32751 Franklin Rd, Franklin, MI

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I’m Kat Quay, a Metro Detroit–based artist working at the intersection of sculpture, technology, and spatial perception. Born and raised in New Jersey, I received my BA in Art + Art History from Colgate University and my MFA in Sculpture + Extended Media from the University of Texas at Austin in 2017. I draw upon my multidisciplinary background spanning art, print production, and Big Data. Within my studio practice, I investigate how digital systems, typically invisible or immaterial, can be translated into physical form, disrupting conventional understandings of space. Through the integration of digital modeling, custom circuitry, LED systems, and materials such as glass, plexi, metal, and wood, I construct immersive installations that function as hybrid interfaces between physical and virtual environments.

My work explores the permeability between these realms, treating materiality as a spectrum that shifts between clarity and opacity, presence and illusion. By isolating and recombining elements such as color, surface, form, and light, I produce moments of slippage where distinctions between constructed and virtual realities dissolve.

I have previously exhibited at Socrates Sculpture Park, the UT Visual Arts Center, and in Mexico City and Angers, France and have participated in residencies at A-Z West, MASS MoCA, SOMA, and the Atlantic Center for the Arts. I was a 2018 nominee for the Louis Comfort Tiffany Foundation Biennial Award and was recently selected to send an artwork into Low-Earth orbit through MIT Media Lab and NASA’s Earthlings project. My work has been featured by NPR, CBS, e-flux, Wood 8 TV (Grand Rapids), The Art Newspaper, among others and I have sat on panels at Ars Electronica and SXSWedu.

I serve my community as a board member of the Detroit Institute of Arts’ Founders Junior Council, but most importantly, I’m a daughter, wife, and mother of two incredible children.
📸 by @breannwhite
#katquay #katquayartist #detroitartist #detroitart #contemporaryart

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Currently on view in a group exhibition at @nikpencegallery, ‘ImageLayer_Bless YourHeart.tif (Bluebonnet)’ continues @katquay’s exploration of the space between the digital and the physical.

Inspired by the familiar layers of photo-editing software, the work transforms a flat image into a sculptural experience. Textured glass acts as a digital “filter,” distorting 3D-printed florals set against an illuminated backdrop, inviting us to reconsider how we see and experience images.

See this work and more now at Nik Pence Gallery. Open Saturdays 12-6p or by appointment.

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Happy birthday Whit! ✈️🚂🚗🚀

We celebrated Whit with his friends and family at the ultimate transportation party! From monster trucks jumping over bumps in sand, construction trucks digging in dirt, race cars zooming down tracks, rocket ships blasting to space, boats in the water, airplanes in the clouds, trains choo-chooing, and so much more…there was an adventure at every turn that kept all of the kids busy, happy and playing!

And the fun didn’t stop there! Each guest got to build their own sensory dough jar at our “assembly line” goodie station. They chose dough colors, vehicles, and all their favorite mix-ins for a personalized take home gift.

We had the best day celebrating💙 thank you @katquay for including us in your celebration!

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