Artist Bio
Katira (Katherine Gailer) is a Colombian artist currently based in Melbourne, exploring cultural identity, the natural environment, women’s empowerment, and contemporary design through public murals, installation works, painting, design, and music. Her Bachelor of Fine Arts and Master of Arts Management degrees from RMIT University were both awarded with honours.
Katherine’s creative expression lives at the intersection of urban and natural environments, modernity and tradition, and inner and outer spiritual realms. Her dream-like compositions celebrate resilience and liberation, echoing the urgent need to restore the invisible fabric that weaves together humans and nature. Her work challenges social structures and reclaims public space for diverse cultural expression and women at the forefront of social change
On a deeper level, she aims to articulate the essence of the Feminine as a vital force of nourishment in our world today. Her compositions aim to reveal the potent beauty that emerges from diverse women embracing their Wilderness- articulating an intersectional, authentic, and unapologetically feminine expression.
Deeply rooted in her cultural heritage, Katira’s creative practice is shaped by Latin America’s rich iconography, symbols, and aesthetics. Her artistic journey is further enriched by her experience as a migrant, which has cultivated a versatile artistic approach. This unique combination allows her style to interact with a wide range of contexts while preserving an authentic creative expression.
Awards & Recognitions include:
• Finalist – Kennedy Art Prize, South Australia
• Finalist – Wyndham Art Prize, Wyndham Art Gallery, Wyndham, Victoria
• Finalist – Global Art Awards, Shanghai
• Winner – People’s Choice Award at Corangamarah Art Prize, Red Rock Regional Gallery, Victoria
• Winner – Packer’s Art Prize, Red Rock Regional Gallery, Victoria
• Winner – ROI Art Prize, Melbourne
• Finalist – Emerging Artist Award, 45 Downstairs Gallery, Melbourne
• Finalist – Contemporary Art Awards, Australia
• Finalist – Melbourne Fringe Festival Visual Arts Award, Fifty Shades Of Blak’ at Blak Dot Gallery, Melbourne
• Featured – Art Expo Malaysia Plus, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
• Finalist – Brisbane Art Prize Brisbane, Australia
• Finalist – Glencore Percival Portrait Painting Prize | Townsville, Australia
• Awarded – 29th Chelsea International Art Competition | NY, USA
• Awarded- RMIT University | Arts Management Prize | Melbourne
• Winner – Tolarno Hotel Annual Award | Melbourne
