Meet Cate Dolphin | Fine artist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Cate Dolphin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Cate, what led you to pursuing a creative path professionally?
In a way, pursuing an artistic career felt like an obvious choice for me. I’ve been drawing and painting since I was a kid, but I continued to explore other facets as I grew up. I was interested in subjects including writing, science, and music. I didn’t expect to go to school for visual art. However, nothing gave me the same feeling that art did. In 2021, I enrolled at the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design. Working alongside such talented students and educators is ultimately what inspired me to pursue a career as an artist. Surrounding myself with people who challenged me and motivated me to be better led me to create a business out of my passion.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I am an oil painter focused on the intimate portraits created within domestic spaces. I’m inspired by the personal representations created by the objects and materials we surround ourselves with. Recently, this concept has expanded to question how this domesticity takes place in public places. I’m fascinated by how easily we find such intimate comfort in highly visible spaces such as furniture stores and airports. I’m still very early in my career but I find so much excitement in the unknown. I’m motivated by my passion for my craft and the seemingly never ending wells of inspiration I find every day. At the end of this year, I will show my first solo exhibition at the Rude Gallery in Lakewood, Colorado.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I have to remind myself not to go straight to galleries! Meow Wolf is always a great compromise of an art museum that feels like a playground. As far as dining out goes, I’m a big proponent of going out for breakfast. Lucile’s Creole Cafe definitely comes to mind. I also love taking visitors vintage shopping on South Broadway.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to dedicate this shoutout to my professors at the Rocky Mountain College of Art & Design. Specifically, I have to thank Julie Puma, Regan Rosburg, Tobias Fike, Matthew Harris, Ania Kumor, Anna Valenti, Lucas McMahon, and Noah Travis Phillips. Being taught by such talented and passionate creatives has been an indescribable gift.

Website: https://www.caitlyndolphin.com

Instagram: @catedolphin

Image Credits
Hay Price
Caitlyn Dolphin