Katie Ohe facts for kids

Katie Ohe (born Katherine Dorothea Minna von der Ohe in 1937) is a famous sculptor from Alberta, Canada. She lives in Calgary. Katie Ohe is known for being one of the first artists to create abstract sculptures in Alberta. She has also taught art for many years. Her most famous works are her abstract and kinetic sculptures. Kinetic sculptures are artworks that move!

Katie Ohe's Life Story

Katie Ohe started studying art in 1954. She went to the Alberta College of Art and Design in Calgary. There, she learned from important artists like Marion Nicoll.

Other teachers who helped her were Illingworth Kerr and Luke Lindoe. In 1957, she worked with Luke Lindoe at Ceramics Arts. She also won an award from the National Gallery of Canada. This award let her study how children learn art. She studied with Arthur Lismer in Montreal.

While in Montreal, she saw an amazing art show by Anne Kahane. When she came back to Calgary, she taught art to children. She then finished her art diploma in 1960.

With another scholarship, Katie Ohe went to New York City. She studied sculpture for three years at the SculptureCenter. There, she worked with sculptor Sahl Swarz. He later invited her to Verona, Italy. She spent several summers working at a bronze foundry there. A bronze foundry is a place where metal sculptures are made.

In 1968, Katie Ohe married artist Harry Kiyooka. In 2011, they started the Kiyooka Ohe Art Centre in Calgary. This center helps share modern art with everyone.

Teaching Art

Katie Ohe loved teaching art. She taught drawing, ceramics, and sculpture. She taught both adults and children. From 1960 to 1967, she taught at Coste House.

She also taught at the Alberta College of Art and Design from 1960 to 1962. Then again from 1970 until she retired in 2016. She taught at Mount Royal College and the University of Calgary. She also led workshops at the Banff Centre. Many of her students became famous artists themselves.

Artworks You Can See

Katie Ohe has created many sculptures for public places. This means her art can be seen by everyone! Some of her public artworks include:

• Nimmons Cairn in Bankview's Nimmons Park, Calgary.
• Garden of Learning at the University of Calgary.
• Zipper (1975) at the University of Calgary.
• Cracked Pot Foundations in Prince's Island Park, Calgary.

Art Shows

Katie Ohe's art has been shown in many exhibitions. These are special shows where people can see her sculptures. Some of her exhibitions include:

• 2020: Katie Ohe at Esker Foundation, Calgary, AB.
• 2006: Art Gallery of Calgary, AB.
• 1991: Katie Ohe at The Illingworth Kerr Gallery, Alberta University of the Arts, Calgary, AB.

Awards and Honors

Katie Ohe has received many awards for her amazing art.

• In 1991, she won the ACAD Alumni Award of Excellence.
• In 2001, she received an honorary doctorate from the University of Calgary. This was to honor her big impact on art in Alberta.
• She received the Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medal in 2002.
• She also received the Alberta Centennial Medal in 2006.
• In 2012, she was given the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.
• She is a member of the Royal Canadian Academy of Arts.
• In 2019, she was inducted into the Alberta Order of Excellence. This is a very high honor in Alberta.

See also

In Spanish: Katie Ohe para niños