Katie grew up and went to school in Adelaide, South Australia. She decided from a young age that wished to be an artist, and therefore studied for her Bachelor of Visual Arts (South Australian College of Art and Education), before attaining her Master of Fine Arts (University of Tasmania). After finally working out in her early 20’s how she could make her living, she obtained her Diploma of Education, before finally completing Certificate IV in workplace assessment and training.

Always with an interest in travel and exploring Australia, Katie has always been, and continues to be inspired by the Australian landscapes. Whether amongst the ochres of South Australia or the vivid, intense colours of the ancient landscape of the Northern Territory, Katie’s inspiration is translated into the classic approaches of oil on stretched linen, gouache, and chinagraph pencil on canvas.

In 2000, Katie moved to the Territory to take up a position of Faculty Head of Art, Design and Technology at a Darwin school. As her research for her master’s had been on the development of Aboriginal art into the Contemporary Art scene, she was interested in developing a better understanding of Aboriginal culture partly by teaching Aboriginal students. Katie was also attracted to the Territory by the ancient landscape and the diversity and complexity of the knowledge and culture of Australia’s First Nations peoples.

Since 1999, Katie has exhibited regularly across the length and breadth of Australia, in Adelaide, Hobart, Geraldton, Canberra, as well as in Darwin. She was a finalist in the Togart Contemporary Art Award 2013, while in 2016 she achieved Highly Commended in the Katherine Art Prize.

 

Image: Katie Bradley, 'Tiwi Masked Owl', acrylic on paper, 2020.