Written by Walter Grio. Photos #1 – #10 by Walter Grio. Bio and other photos provided by Katie Henderson.
KATIE’S MOTTO: I CAN DO IT
Editor’s Note: I was extremely excited when I ran into Katie’s booth at the National Down Syndrome Congress Convention in Washington, DC recently. I immediately fell in love with this drawing of “Whitney”, a beautiful lady dressed in yellow (à la Young MC). It had Vogue written all over it.
Katie was discovered this past December and since then, she’s had multiple exhibits, she’s been featured in several publications, and has done several interviews. I spoke to Katie and her Mom for a bit and all of these ideas just started pouring in my head. I was inspired and in awe. Katie’s dream is for her artwork to come alive. I think the fashion industry can certainly make that happen. Even her Mom suggested that this would be an awesome Project Runway episode where each designer takes a drawing and makes a design out of each one. I couldn’t agree more.
You can purchase Katie’s original drawings or giclée prints via her website below. You should definitely get one now because as soon as Lagerfeld or Wintour gets a hold of these, you won’t be able to afford one.
ABOUT KATIE HENDERSON
Katie is an emerging artist living with Down Syndrome. She grew up in Lake Ridge, Virginia, a suburb of Washington, DC and moved to Florida with her family in 2004. She used fashion design books to teach herself how to draw posing models. She started drawing illustrations from her “Fashion Sketchbook” repeatedly until she was ready to draw free-hand sketches. She practiced for several years before discovering her own technique. In 2008 she was named “Artist of the Month” at the ARC of St. Lucie County in Ft. Pierce, FL
Katie’s medium is professional artist markers and colored pencils. She is experimenting with watercolors, acrylics, and pastels under the direction of Lynne Barletta at the Visionary School of Arts in Stuart, VA. Her work is currently being featured at the “Emerging Artist Exhibit” at Art Mundo Underground Gallery in Ft. Pierce, FL and the “Art of Associations Exhibit” at the Lighthouse Art Gallery in Tequesta, FL.
Katie held her first gallery exhibit, “Empowering Women,” in February 2012 at Osceola 32 in Stuart, FL. She has been featured in several newspaper articles and in the Stuart Magazine. She has had several original drawings purchased by private collectors in Pennsylvania, Ohio, Indiana, West Virginia, Florida, and Texas. Her works have been exhibited in several juried fine arts shows. She has exhibited her work in both public and private galleries in Florida. Café Katie Gallery (Katie’s own studio) opened in July 2012 in the Art Bank Loft #308 in Ft. Pierce, FL.
Katie is especially proud of supporting others with disabilities. She is currently raising funds to support The Treasure Coast Down Syndrome Awareness Group (Stand Up for Independence). She donates original drawings and giclée prints for fundraising events. She has several up-coming Down Syndrome and ARC events scheduled and as a self-advocate, Katie had an exhibit at the National Down Syndrome Congress Convention in Washington, DC on July 2012. She also created “Buttercup”, a golf lady, used in her t-shirts and note cards to support breast cancer fundraisers.
Katie uses her art to encourage and inspire individuals with disabilities to achieve their dreams – “Helping Others Help Themselves.”
Website: misskatieskreations.com
Facebook: facebook.com/MissKatiesKreations
