Work samples
About Katie
Katie Pumphrey is an American contemporary artist, living and working in Baltimore, MD. Pumphrey has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the Maryland Institute College of Art. She has participated in artist residencies at the Studios of Key West, Vermont Studio Center, Gallery Four, and the Creative Alliance in Baltimore. Pumphrey is also a long distance, open water swimmer — she has swam the English Channel 2x (2015, 2022), around the island of Manhattan in 2017, and the Catalina… more
Night Swim
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Sharks and Minnows84 x 96in, acrylic on canvas, 2021
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Somersault60”W x 64”H x 60”d (hanging height variable); pool floats, pool noodles, kiddie pool, polyester fiber fill, wood, steel chain; 2022
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Shape Shifters84 x 72in, acrylic on canvas, 2021
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With Monsters60x72in, acrylic on canvas, 2021
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Cannonball10”W x 39”H x 10”D; beach balls, spray foam, rebar, concrete; 2022
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Den of a Wolf60 x 72in, acrylic on canvas, 2021
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Sledgehammerdimension variable; pool floats, concrete, mixed media; 2021
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One Eye Closed50 x 44in, acrylic on canvas, 2021
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Penguin Pool Float24”w x 12”h x 24”d, concrete, 2021
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Bellyflop18”w x 108”h x 18”d; beach balls, spray foam, metal, concrete; 2021
Hurts So Good
This work dives into the familiar scramble to find calm when chaos is swirling around us, and the go-to humor we call on to brighten the moment or lighten the load. So often we feel steady, comfortable, in control, and then the lights go out, a wave comes— these moments knock us over, forcing us to push through, reset the meter to reset, and start from the beginning. We make jokes to ease the tension and make it through the turbulence that comes our way. It’s lightheartedness that makes disaster taste better— like tension dipped in a little fun, laughter covered anxiety, and a stress ball coated with bright rainbow sprinkles. It hurts so good. Pumphrey’s work dives into these moments with playfulness, and explores the silliness we need in a chaotic world, and the rollercoasters we all ride between our ears.
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Like a Washing Machine42x66in, acrylic & spray paint on canvas, 2019
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Rabble Rouser60x80in, oil on canvas, 2020
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Tilt-a-whirl #222x26in, acrylic on canvas, 2020
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Everybody Loves a Party Hat42x48in, acrylic on canvas, 2020
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I Need a Cupcake48x66in, acrylic on canvas, 2020
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Candy Coated34x44in, acrylic on canvas, 2020
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Cannonball66x52in, acrylic on canvas, 2020
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Pool Party70x64in, acrylic & spray paint on canvas, 2019
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Night Swim56x482in, acrylic & spray paint on canvas, 2019
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Brainfreeze22x22in, acrylic & spray paint on canvas, 2019
Merry-go-round
Merry-go-round explores the familiar and constant teeter-totter between control and chaos. We feel steady, level-headed, comfortable — and then something shifts, and we scramble to grab the wheel. The floor keeps spinning. We blink through blurriness, fight the dizziness, and move to find our footing. Again, the meter resets. We ping-pong between these moments, time and time again. It’s a dance we know the moves to, a game of repetition we constantly play. Again and again, we ease the tension and harness the commotion. Over and over and over again, we get on and off the carousel.
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Like Funfetti and Ice Cream66x74in, acrylic on canvas, 2019
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Like Layer Cake #1-218x24in each, acrylic on canvas, 2019
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Oh, Hi There #112x12in, acrylic on canvas, 2019
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Oh, Hi There #212x12in, acrylic on canvas, 2019
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Merry-go-roundSite specific installation, acrylic on paper, 2019 This site specific installation was the first iteration of an evolving installation during a month long exhibition.
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Merry-go-round Againsite-specific installation, acrylic on paper, 2019 This site specific installation was the second iteration of an evolving installation during a month long exhibition.
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Merry-go-round Again, and Againsite-specific installation, acrylic on paper and wood panel, 2019 This site specific installation was the third and final iteration of an evolving installation during a month long exhibition.
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Confection #1-222x22in each, acrylic on canvas, 2019
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The Floor is Lava48x48in, acrylic on canvas, 2019
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Whale Hello #16x6in each, acrylic on canvas, 2019
Five More Minutes
Five More Minutes, explores the anxiety, excitement, panic, and even monotony that comes from just five more minutes. Calm shifts to chaos and seconds fly by. Time drags on and you push further into the unknown. Five more minutes. Stay here for just five more minutes. You have five more minutes. You still have five more minutes. Wait, just five more minutes. In five more minutes. Please, just five more minutes. Only five more minutes. Five more minutes.
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Temper Tantrum20"x96", acrylic on canvas, 2018
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Double Dutch142"x96", acrylic on canvas, 2018
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Hot Heat66"x66", acrylic on canvas, 2018
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Hopscotch84"x72", acrylic on canvas, 2018
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Like Pulling Teeth96"x70", acrylic on canvas, 2018
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Stone Soup62"x72", acrylic on canvas, 2018
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Waver and Warble (3xfast)48"x42", acrylic on canvas, 2018
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Humdrum66"x72", acrylic on canvas, 2018
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Tug-o-war42"x72"x34", acrylic on wood, 2018
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Wrestle to the GroundWrestle to the Ground, 84"x72", acrylic on canvas, 2018
Punch-drunk
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Punch-drunk #1-910"x10" each, acrylic + paper on board, 2018
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Punch-drunk #110"x10", acrylic + paper on board, 2018
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Punch-drunk #210"x10", acrylic + paper on board, 2018
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Punch-drunk #310"x10", acrylic + paper on board, 2018
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Punch-drunk #410"x10", acrylic + paper on board, 2018
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Punch-drunk #510"x10", acrylic + paper on board, 2018
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Punch-drunk #610"x10", acrylic + paper on board, 2018
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Punch-drunk #710"x10", acrylic + paper on board, 2018
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Punch-drunk #810"x10", acrylic + paper on board, 2018
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Punch-drunk #910"x10", acrylic + paper on board, 2018
Rearranging Rooms
Rearranging Rooms was on view at Project 1628 in Baltimore, MD. Nov 12, 2017 - Jan 4, 2018.
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Fever Dream84"x72", acrylic on canvas, 2017
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Fever Dream84"x72", acrylic on canvas, 2017
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Shake the Life Out of It62"x70", acrylic on canvas, 2017
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Tea Party48"x42", acrylic on canvas, 2017
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Teeter Totter80"x70", acrylic on canvas, 2017
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Toppled and Tangled (3xFast)50"x44", acrylic on canvas, 2017
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Trigger Point62"x70", acrylic on canvas, 2017
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Up, Down, or Under #1-618"x24" each, acrylic on canvas, 2017
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Intermission #1-210"x10" each, acrylic on canvas, 2017
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Five More Minutes84"x78", acrylic on paper, 2017