Kim Tateo
Kim Tateo is an interdisciplinary artist interested in exploring interconnectedness with ourselves, our environment, and ultimately the universe. Her work moves between releasing feelings into abstract expressions and creating magical worlds meant to be the unseen spaces where all hearts are connected. These landscapes evoke a sense of dreaming, playfulness, and peace, gently pulling on the heartstrings of whimsy in all beings. She uses bright colors, glitter, and blacklight-responsive paint as an interactive way to reveal a hidden layer that reminds us of the magic constantly surrounding us.
Tateo creates experiences for artists to connect and collaborate through collaborative painting and her “Snail Mail Art Collaboration,” a project with artists worldwide exploring impermanence through art and snail mail. She writes songs for her project, Sparkle Garden, and explores ephemerality and presence through improvisation with What Blooms in Moonlight, a live performance painting and sound-immersive event.
She is based in Troy, New York, and has participated in various exhibitions, art fairs, shows, and public art projects in New York City, Los Angeles, and the Capital Region.
Tateo is the Executive Director and Farm Manager of Friends of Tivoli Lake Preserve and Farm, where she encourages people to connect with the land and each other through the garden and green spaces. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Music from the University of Iowa and is an MFA candidate at the University at Albany, expected in 2025.
Contact
www.lookalittlecloser.com
kimtateostudio@gmail.com
@lookalittlecloser
Interview
What inspires your art practice and keeps you motivated?
Our interconnectedness through feelings. Painting is my way of expressing myself and releasing the paradox of emotions I feel in this human experience. I am motivated to share this as much as possible. I am also deeply inspired by nature and impermanence—the idea that everything is always changing.
How does your mission as an artist influence the work you create?
I hope to create spaces where people feel inspired and want to take a moment to pause and be with a piece. I want to create a sense of curiosity and exploration.
Can you share a key part of your creative process that helps you stay focused?
Just show up each day, even if it's only a little bit. Just keep the hand moving. Sometimes I go to the studio and dither forever, but all it takes is a moment. Once I have dropped in, it's the only place I want to be. Embracing this feeling makes it easier for me to dive in sooner the next day. I also keep a journal during my painting process so I can track my conversations with my paintings.
What mindset tip do you rely on to overcome challenges in your art career?
Meet yourself where you are, but try to find a space of gratitude. When life happens (and it does), give yourself a little grace. Take the time you need, but ultimately remember that the challenging moments are part of our journey and they will become amazing stories of resilience.
How do you hope your art impacts the world or your community?
My art is intended to evoke a sense of dreaming, playfulness, and peace, gently pulling on the heartstrings of whimsy in all beings. By pulling at these heartstrings, I hope we can all remember our connection to a larger space of interconnectedness. Let them be vision-holding spaces full of love, abundance, and joy for all beings.
