Kathie Olivas

Biography

Kathie Olivas is a multi-media artist who resides in Tampa , FL and Albuquerque , NM . She received her bachelor's degree in visual arts from the University of South Florida in 1999 and is currently working on a book of her work and a line of limited edition vinyl toys.

Sugary treats, dichotomous dreamlands, and the cute and corrupted all find their way into the brief calm before the rebellion featured in Kathie Olivas's art. This series of paintings and custom figures focus on imperfect characters that parallel a vision of post-apocalyptic conformity, uniquely documenting their own stories in a mysterious brave new world.

The cast is inspired by early American portraiture that often depicted children as small adults in an idealized new land. They evoke a sense of temporality; childhood serves as a starting ground, a place where things begin. Children also personify "cuteness" as more of a representation of projected innocence. The comfort in this ideology comes into question when these sweet creatures have other ideas such as how to protect themselves or how would they be able to adapt if they chose to be independent. Once isolated in a war torn environment, they are forced to develop their own defense mechanisms. Parasitic Haze focuses on the ambiguity and fleeting moments surrounding the uprising. The unapologetic anti-heroes guide us through the mysterious lands questionably untouched by human destruction. A minimalist haze fogs what could be the illusion of this dreamland or what could possibly be the reality of destruction and decay after complete and utter annihilation. Their mutated limbs, empowered sidekicks, or improvised armor present a satirical look at how fear affects our sense of reality.

Misery Children

Solo Shows

Uninvited Guests - October 17 - November 19, 2008, My Plastic Heart NYC

Designed Toy Releases

Benny and Red Bird
Scavengers
Two Faced Hazel
Big Sal
Jack and Lucky with Brandt Peters
Skelve
Ultra Squid Girl with Brandt Peters
Elizabeth
Calliope Jackalope
Mortimer the Mortician and Oliver the Bat Boy with Brandt Peters
Wandering Misfits with Brandt Peters
Clementine
Pocket Sideshow
Dark Harbor with Brandt Peters
Lucy Curious

Toy Series Participation

Care Bears - 6.5" "Birthday Bear Black", 2018
Care Bears - 6.5" "Birthday Bear Pink", 2018
Dunny - 3" Dunny Fatale Series, 2010
Serv-O-Matics - Cosmic Lily, chase figure, 2009
Dolbee - 5", 366 pieces, 2008
Dunny - 3" Series 5, 2008
Circus Punk - 16" Superboy with Flaw, 100 pieces, 2006

Customs & Show Pieces

Piece(s) for Winter Salon, 2017
Night King - custom for Bats in the Belfry, 2017
Piece(s) for Winter Salon, 2016
"Encrusted Warrior" Bear head for Bear in Mind, 2016
Piece(s) for Monsters and Misfits, 2016
Piece(s) for Winter Salon, 2015
Piece(s) for Bewitching 5, 2015
Piece(s) for Winter Salon, 2014
Pieces for Traveling Circus, 2014
Piece(s) for Bewitching, 2014
Skelve - custom for Conjuring Mischief, 2014
Piece(s) for Winter Salon, 2013
Pieces for Monsters and Misfits 3, 2013
YHWH - custom for the YHWH Group Custom Show, 2013
Pieces for Bewitching, 2013
Piece(s) for Tiny Trifecta, 2013
Fonzo - 6" "Golden Luchador" custom for Fonzo Love NY, 2013
Piece(s) for Winter Salon, 2012
Fonzo - 6" custom for the Fonzo Custom Show, 2012
Pieces for Monsters and Misfits 2, 2012
Pieces for Baby Tattooville, 2012
- Skelve - 9" "Candy Coated Kuma", 40 pieces, 2012
- Elizabeth - 7" "Honey", 30 pieces, 2012
- Elizabeth - 7" "Plasma", 66 pieces, 2012
Piece(s) for Lucha Libre, 2012
Piece(s) for Le Carnaval des Spectres, 2012
Piece(s) for Winter Salon, 2011/2012
Swampy McSwamperton - custom for The Epic Adventures of Swampy McSwamperton, 2011
Piece(s) for Monsters and Misfits, 2011
Pieces for Bewitching, 2011
- Elizabeth - 25" "Manifest"
- Elizabeth - 19" "Batgirl"
- Elizabeth - 17" "Octopus Girl"
Piece(s) for Vintage, Modern Narrative, 2011
Benny and Red Bird - "Wind Up Benny" custom, 2011
Piece(s) for Remedy, 2010
Monsters for Monstoberfest, 2010
Burgerbuns - custom for Funbuns, A Burgerbuns Custom Show, 2010
Jack and Lucky - 7" "Gray Jack & Crystal Skull Lucky", 2010
Jack and Lucky - 7" "Green Jack & Crystal Skull Lucky", 2010
Jack and Lucky - 7" "Yellow Jack & Crystal Skull Lucky", 2010
Fatima - Red Bird custom
Fatima - custom
Qee - 36" No3, with Brandt Peters, 2009
Mega Munny - 16" Green Apple Bear for Nocturnal show, 2009
Custom Stitch for the Stitch Experiment 626 Project Tour, 2008
Benny & Red Bird - "Yellow Benny & Chocolate Red Bird" for Monster Art Rally, 2008
"Hazel" for Noxious Fumes, 2008
Mad L - 10" custom for the MadL Citizens show, 2008
Piece for the SuperHero Art Exhibition, 2008
Piece(s) for Crazy4Cult, 2008
Labbit - 10" The Impersonator custom for Down the Bunny Hole, 2008
Custom Hot Wheels VW Bus for the Toys show, 2008
Munny - custom for the For Love of Munny show, 2007
"Girl with Rabbit Ears" for the Inaugural Art Show, 2007
Lefty - for the DIY Calamari show, 2007
Piece(s) for Black Market, 2007
Zliks - 19" Girl in Dog Suit, for the Attack of the Zliks show, 2007
Qee - Baby Qee pair for the Love Hate show, 2007
Piece(s) for Crazy4Cult, 2007
Piece(s) for Vinyl Elements, 2007
Gwin - Mega Gwin for the Mega Gwin Custom Show, 2007
Monster for the Halloween Monster Mash, 2007
Nade - custom for Operation Fragmentation, 2006
Doughboy - for the Yeast Infection show, 2006
Munny - custom for Save Huck, 2006
Piece(s) for Silent Stalkers, 2006
Piece(s) for Back in the Day, 2006
Cheshire Cat - 8" custom for We're All Mad Here, 2006
Piece(s) for The Chubby Bunny Show, 2006
Munny - custom for Munny Show LA, 2005
Circus Punks - custom for 100 Circus Punks Rule NYC, 2005
Funny Club - 4" custom for The Funny Club Show, 2005