Katherine Bernhardt

Katherine Bernhardt (b. 1975, St. Louis, MO) lives and works in St. Louis. Through her index of images, from childhood sticker books to a ketchup bottle seen during travel, Bernhardt chronicles her life and the broader culture, synthesizing her visual material with hard-won ease.

Her influences span from Henri Matisse and the Pattern and Decoration movement to Peter Doig and Chris Ofili. She is an artists’ artist, admired by many contemporary peers working today as a singular voice in painting. In a palette that ranges from restrained to vivid Day-Glo, Bernhardt paints the canvases face up on her studio floor, employing spray paint, puddles of thinned-out acrylic, and utilitarian brushwork to emphasize aspects of her motifs. Bernhardt’s process is improvisational and loose, at times inviting accident and chance into the works, as well as asserting an equal relationship between artist and material.

Artist: Studio

"I look for the most obvious, overlooked things and then make them funny or animated in my paintings."

Artworks

Katherine Bernhardt,

Pink Panther + Lucky Charms,

2023,

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Katherine Bernhardt,

Bunganatti,

2023,

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas,

78 × 72 in (198.12 × 182.88 cm)

Katherine Bernhardt,

"I didn't do it",

2021,

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas,

60 × 48 in (152.4 × 121.92 cm)

Katherine Bernhardt,

Pizza Break,

2021,

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas,

96 × 120 in (243.84 × 304.8 cm)

Katherine Bernhardt,

Glow In The Dark Micro Dosing,

2021,

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas,

96 × 120 in (243.84 × 304.8 cm)

Katherine Bernhardt,

Green,

2019,

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas,

96 × 120 in (243.84 × 304.8 cm)

Katherine Bernhardt,

Spaceage,

2019,

96 × 120 in (243.84 × 304.8 cm)

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Katherine Bernhardt,

Pink panther + scotch tape + green plantains,

2018,

120 × 240 in (304.8 × 609.6 cm)

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Katherine Bernhardt,

Direct Flight,

2017,

114 × 318 in (289.56 × 807.72 cm)

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Katherine Bernhardt,

Untitled,

2016,

60 × 72 in (152.4 × 182.88 cm)

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Katherine Bernhardt,

Windex cigarettes basketball,

2016,

120 × 96 in (304.8 × 243.84 cm)

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Katherine Bernhardt,

Sharpies on Black,

2014,

96 × 120 in (243.84 × 304.8 cm)

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Katherine Bernhardt,

Tropical Fruit Salad,

2014,

78 × 79 ½ inches (198.12 × 201.93 cm)

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Katherine Bernhardt,

Steaming Hot Coffee and Cigarettes and Pizza,

2013,

96 × 120 inches (243.84 × 304.80 cm)

Acrylic and spray paint on canvas

Installation Views

"I'm Bart Simpson, who the hell are you?", Canada, New York, 2023

Exhibitions

Katherine Bernhardt, "I'm Bart Simpson, who the hell are you?", Jan 11 – Feb 25, 2023
Katherine Bernhardt, "I'm Bart Simpson, who the hell are you?" , Jan 11 – Feb 25, 2023
Katherine Bernhardt, Done with Xanax, Jan 10 – Feb 15, 2020
Katherine Bernhardt, GREEN, Jan 5 – Feb 11, 2018
Katherine Bernhardt, Stupid, Crazy, Ridiculous, Funny Patterns, Feb 1 – Mar 3, 2014
Katherine Bernhardt, Tombouctou 52 Jours, Apr 16 – May 23, 2010
Katherine Bernhardt, Kate, Giselle, Natalia, Agyness, Simon, Kanye & George, Apr 24 – Jun 1, 2008
Katherine Bernhardt, 96 Degrees in the Shade, Sep 7 – Oct 16, 2005

Publications

Katherine Bernhardt: Why is a mushroom growing in my shower?, 2022

Katherine Bernhardt
Houses, 2018

Katherine Bernhardt, 2017

Katherine Bernhardt
Tombouctou 52 Jours, 2010

Katherine Bernhardt
The Magnificent Excess Of Snoop Dogg, 2008

Katherine Bernhardt
GREEKY, 2008

Press

Kate Guadagnino "This St. Louis House Is a Pattern-Filled Time Portal to the ’80s." The New York Times August 18, 2023

Alyanna Raissa J. Payos "The Best Art Exhibitions To See In Hong Kong This July." Vogue July 15, 2023

Madelaine Clark "Top of The Pops: Katherine Bernhardt Paints Pokémon." Prestige June 12, 2023

Richard Whiddington "Pokémon as Muse? See Artist Katherine Bernhardt’s Exuberant New Paintings That Channel the Beloved Pocket Monsters." Artnet News June 1, 2023

Mabel Lui "Pokémon art exhibition by American painter Katherine Bernhardt blows up Pikachu, Charizard, Ditto, Chansey and more." South China Morning Post May 23, 2023

"Dummy doll jealous eyes ditto pikachu beefy mimikyu rough play Galarian rapid dash libra horn HP 270 Vmax full art by Katherine Bernhardt." Time Out Hong Kong May 1, 2023

Ella Sangster "The “universe of pop” arrives on the Gold Coast." Harper's Bazaar Australia February 2023

John Vincler "Art Gallery Shows to See in February." The New York Times February 8, 2023

Vittoria Benzine "The Top 5 Exhibitions to See in New York Right Now." FAD Magazine January 31, 2023

Jacoba Urist "Duly Noted: 5 New York Shows I Already Love This Year." Cultured January 26, 2023

Shawn Ghassemitari "Bart Simpson Plays Muse in Katherine Bernhardt's Latest Exhibition." HypeArt January 18, 2023

Sarah Cascone "What I Buy and Why: How Collector and Art Advisor Jeanne Masel Has Learned to Know What She Wants When She Sees It." Artnet December 27, 2022

"Hot Lots: 5 Artworks That Spectacularly Outperformed Expectations During London’s Summer 2022 Day Sales." Artnet July 12, 2022

Shawn Ghassemitari "Katherine Bernhardt Transforms David Zwirner London Into a Universe of Color." HypeArt July 12, 2022

Alex Leav "In the studio with Katherine Bernhardt.." émergent Magazine July 1, 2022

Valencia Tong "The Best Booths at Art Basel Hong Kong 2022, from Dazzling Large-Scale Installations to NFT Hype." ARTnews May 27, 2022

Maximilíano Durón "Katherine Bernhardt, Painter of Vibrant Pop Cultural Images, Joins David Zwirner." ARTNews July 2, 2021

Shannon Lee "Why Katherine Bernhardt’s Freewheeling Paintings Attract Collectors of All Kinds." Artsy May 18, 2020

Roberta Smith "What to See Right Now in New York Art Galleries." The New York Times January 29, 2020

Wallace Ludel "E.T. and Xanax: An Interview with Katherine Bernhardt." Cultured Magazine January 16, 2020

Scott Indrisek "Paint it Loud." GQ September 1, 2019

Katherine McMahon "The Year in Books—Under the Covers, Between the Lines." ARTnews December 20, 2018

Caroline Goldstein "The 3 Things People Were Talking About at Art Basel, According to Social Media." Artnet June 15, 2018

M.H. Miller "The Art World Is Easy to Dislike. Here Are Some Reasons Not to.." The New York Times Style Magazine June 11, 2018

"Katherine Bernhardt." The New Yorker January 19, 2018

Katy Diamond Hamer "Pizza! Capri Sun! Cigarettes! Katherine Bernhardt On Her Love For Pop Culture." Sleek January 8, 2018

Yin Ho "Critic's Picks : Katherine Bernhardt." Artforum January, 2018

Howard Halle "Top Five New York Art Shows This Week." Time Out New York July 31, 2017

Alara Kap "Katherine Bernhardt , Vivid Hues." Based Istanbul February 2017 102-107

Calvin Wilson "What is art? Contemporary Art Museum has answers." St. Louis Post-Dispatch February 1, 2017

Sabrina Tarasoff "FIAC and Paris Internationale." art agenda October 22, 2016

"Collectors Susan and Michael Hort's Picks from FIAC 2016." Artspace October 22, 2016

Aaron Peck "Katherine Bernhardt." Artforum September 2016

"Make Painting Great Again." The New Yorker June 29, 2016

Andrew Nunes "CANADA is Making Painting Great Again." The Creators Project: Vice Magazine June 22, 2016

Jerry Saltz "I Love Canada’s 17-Artist State-of-the-Medium Spectacle ‘Make Painting Great Again.’ It Also Makes Me Worry for the Fate of the Lower East Side...." Vulture June 14, 2016

Beta Germano "Show Me The Money." Casa Vogue June 1, 2016 48-49

Robert Grunenberg "Artists to Watch." Numero Homme Magazine (Berlin) February 15, 2016 48-49

Judicael Lavrador "Sexy et sans complexes: la peinture figurative aujourd'hui." Beaux Arts February 1, 2016 58

Steven Zevitas "15 Artists to Watch in 2015 (+ 3)." Huffpost December 16, 2015

Colin Gleadell "Market News: the modern art comeback." The Telegraph November 3, 2015

Christopher Schreck "Katherine Bernhardt." Kaleidoscope November 1, 2015

Diane Solway "Katherine Bernhardt." Press November 1, 2015

Alex Rayner "Patterns of Consumption." Supplement Magazine October 21, 2015

"Meet the Artist: Katherine Bernhardt." Tory Daily October 12, 2015

Catriona Gray "Bold Strokes." Harpers Bazaar October 9, 2015

Kate Neave "The Scoop." Baku October 1, 2015

Jerry Saltz "Why Have There Been No Great Women Bad-Boy Artists? There Have Been, of Course. But the Art World Has Refused to Recognize Them.." Vulture September 29, 2015

"Powerful Babies." Spritmuseum September 25, 2015

Dylan Kerr "The Best Painters Don't Intellectualize Their Art": Katherine Bernhardt on Her New Paintings, & Why She Loves the Tropics." Artspace September 19, 2015

Claire Lehmann "Katherine Bernhardt." Artforum September 11, 2015

Lauren Gomez "Island Living." Cultured Magazine September 1, 2015

Scott Indrisek "Katherine Bernhardt." Modern Painters September 1, 2015

Martin Herbert "Four Painting Shows." frieze September 1, 2015

Benedetta Pignatelli "Into the Art World." Vogue Italia March 1, 2015

"15 Painters to Watch in 2015 (+ 3)." New American Paintings December 15, 2014

Jerry Saltz "The 19 Best Art Shows of 2014." Vulture December 10, 2014

Wayne Koestenbaum "Top 10: Best of 2014." Artforum December ,2014

Christopher Knight "Review Katherine Bernhardt takes a large look at consumerism." Los Angeles Times October 7, 2014

"14 Drinks on Canvas." Elle Magazine September 1, 2014

Roberta Smith "Katherine Bernhardt: 'Stupid, Crazy, Ridiculous, Funny Patterns"." The New York Times February 21, 2014

Roberta Smith "Last Chance: Katherine Bernhardt and Youssef Jdia, Holiday Services." The New York Times December 27, 2013

Jerry Saltz "The 10 Best Art Shows of the Year." New York Magazine December 8, 2013

Roberta Smith "Art in Review: Katherine Bernhardt and Youssef Jdia - Holiday Services." The New York Times November 22, 2013

Roberta Smith "Duro Olowu: Material." The New York Times March 1, 2012

Roberta Smith "Art in Review: Katherine Bernhardt, Alfred Jensen, Chris Johanson, Chris Martin, Andrew Masullo and Judith Scott."The New York Times July 14, 2011

Maxwell Williams "Katherine Bernhardt." Flaunt Magazine September 2010

Nana Asfour "Katherine Bernhardt, 'Tombouctou 52 Jours'." Time Out New York May 13, 2010

Karen Nelson "PULSE: A Runway Show by the House of Berber." The New York Times May 2, 2010

Roberta Smith "Spaced Out/ On Time." The New York Times September 25, 2009

Christopher Bollen "Katherine Bernhardt." Interview Magazine November 23, 2008

Christopher Bartley "Brush With Flame." V Magazine Fall 2008

Colin Gleanwell "Art Market News: Kate Moss, Victoria Beckham, and Agyness Deyne portraits to launch gallery." TelegraphSeptember 29, 2008

Jerry Saltz "Kate, Giselle, Natalia, Agyness, Simon, Kanye & George." New York Magazine May 26, 2008

"Katherine Bernhardt." The New Yorker May 26, 2008

"Supermodel." V Magazine Spring 2007

Carly Berwick "The Armory Show Shopping Guide." New York Magazine February 15, 2007

Adam Mendelsohn "Primal Scream." Whitewall August 1, 2006

Suzanne Tarasieve "Katherine Bernhardt: Winter Special Crazy Fun." Modern Painters May 1, 2006

Stephen Maine "Down East." Art in America May 1, 2006

Sandra Fisher "Katherine Bernhardt: The Idea of Beauty." Vernis 2006

Roberta Smith "Even a Little Space Can Hold an Abundance of Ideas." The New York Times November 25, 2005

Martha Schwendener "Katherine Bernhardt." The New Yorker October 17, 2005

Aaron Gell "Welcome to the Jungle." Elle October 1, 2005

Jerry Saltz "Ups and Downs." The Village Voice September 23, 2005

Roberta Smith "New York's Finest." The New York Times February 11, 2005

Betty Ann Jordan "Art." Toronto Life January 1, 2005

David Blazer "Katherine Bernhardt." Eye Magazine January 1, 2005

Dana Schutz "Installation." Modern Painters October 1, 2004

Roberta Smith "Girls Gone Wild." The New York Times July 4, 2003

Alexi Worth "Katherine Bernhardt." The New Yorker December 24, 2001

Jerry Saltz "Something Wild." The Village Voice December 18, 2001

Kim Levin "Voice Choice." The Village Voice December 1, 2001

Tim Gilman-Sevik "Review: ‘Perfunctory’ at Team." Flash Art International October 1, 2001

Jerry Saltz "Mood Swings." The Village Voice July 1, 1999

CV

Katherine Bernhardt

b. 1975, St Louis, MO

Lives and works in St Louis, MO

  • Education

    • 2000

      MFA, School of Visual Arts, New York, NY

    • 1998

      BFA, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, IL

      NYU, Summer Intensive Program, New York, NY

      International School of Art in Umbria, Italy

  • Selected Solo Exhibitions

    • 2023

      Dummy doll jealous eyes ditto pikachu beefy mimikyu rough play Galarian rapid dash libra horn HP 270 Vmax full art, David Zwirner, Hong Kong, China

      "I'm Bart Simpson, who the hell are you?", CANADA, New York, NY

    • 2022

      Why is a mushroom growing in my shower?, David Zwirner, London, United Kingdom

    • 2021

      Katherine Bernhardt: Special Online Exhibition, NANZUKA, Tokyo, Japan

      Katherine Bernhardt: Ahi donde no has llegado' sabes que yo te llevare, DiabloRosso, Panama City, Panama

      Katherine Bernhardt: Hamburger Bacon Black Olive and Mushroom with Salted Caramel Pretzel Concrete and Hi Fi Fo Fum, Greenberg Gallery, Saint Louis, MI

    • 2020

      MayoKetchup, Embajada, San Juan, PR

      Done With Xanax, CANADA, New York, NY

    • 2019

      Big in Japan, NANZUKA, Tokyo, Japan

      Garfield on Scotch Tape, Xavier Hufkens, Brussels, Belgium

      GOLD, Art OMI, Ghent, NY

    • 2018

      Watermelon World, Mario Testino Museum (MATE), Lima, Peru

      GREEN, CANADA, New York, NY