Katy Horan (b. 1980, Houston, Texas) is an illustrator and interdisciplinary artist living and working in Austin, Texas. Her paintings, drawings, sculptures, and video work investigate female archetypes and experiences. Pulling from a spectrum of influences, including folklore, history, film, and her own life, she creates ambiguous narratives that exist in the space between beauty and darkness, familiarity and strangeness. As an illustrator, she is committed to projects that celebrate and uncover forgotten or overlooked female histories and stories.
CLIENTS
Andrews McMeel Publishing, Clarkson Potter Publishing (Penguin Random House), Seal Press (Hachette), Cadabra Records, Birth. Movies. Death, Bust Magazine, Fantagraphics Books
Curriculum vitae
Born 1980, Houston, TX; Lives and works in Austin, TX
EDUCATION
2003 Rhode Island School of Design, BFA Illustration
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2021 Rooms, Grayduck Gallery, Austin, Tx
2014 Katy Horan: New Works, Flatcolor Gallery, Seattle, Wa
2012 Keep Your Arms From Going Astray, Domy Books, Houston, Tx
2010 Lady Monsters, Domy Books, Austin, TX
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2023
Invasive Species, Icosa Gallery, Austin, Tx
2021
Crit Group Reunion, The Contemporary Austin, Austin, T
Own it, examine it, and confront it head on, DORF, Austin, Tx
2015
Folktales and Legends: An Exhibition Without Borders, John Michael Kohler Arts Center, Sheboygan, Wi
2014
Goodly/Wicked: The Contemporary Austin Crit Group, Grayduck Gallery, Austin, Tx
2013
The Singing Bone, Grayduck Gallery, Austin, Tx
MPath, Gallery [1], Texas State University, San Marcos, Tx
2011
Three Knocks, Narwhal Art Projects, Toronto, Canada
The Texas Biennial: an independent survey of contemporary Texas art, Austin, Tx
2010
The Dazzle, Narwhal Art Projects, Toronto, Canada
2009
Little Crowns, Narwhal Art Projects, Toronto, Canada
AWARDS
2017
NPR Best Book of 2017, Literary Witches: A Celebration of Magical Women Writers
2015
The Hunting Art Prize, Finalist
2011
The Texas Biennial, Selected Artist
Art Takes Miami, Design & Illustration category winner and grant recipient
IN PRINT
2025
Upcoming: Author and Illustrator, Drowned Women and Willow Trees: An Illustrated Book of Murder Ballads, Andrews McMeel Publishing
2023
New American Paintings, No. 162
2020
Illustrator, Ask Baba Yaga: Poetic Remedies for Troubled Times , Andrews McMeel Publishing
2019
Illustrator, The Literary Witches Oracle Deck, Clarkson Potter Publishing (Penguin Random House)
2018
New American Paintings, No. 138
2017
Illustrator, Literary Witches, a Celebration of Magical Women Writers, Seal Press (Hachette)
2016
Dark Inspiration II, Victionary
2015
New American Paintings, No. 120
2010
New American Paintings, No. 90
The Exquisite Book, Chronicle Books