Direct observation excites me. It allows for close, quiet, and constant discovery. The subtle shifts that occur in natural changing light create living color harmonies and moments of magic.
Kathy Coe is best known for her portraits of people, still lives, and figures. She seldom has a preconceived idea for what she will create on her canvas. Instead, she follows a feeling she wants to explore.
One of Kathy’s most meaningful projects was painting portraits of Gilda Radner for Gilda's Club— a cancer wellness center on Houston Street in NYC. She worked closely with Gene Wilder to create a magical world for Gilda. As you enter the building Gilda's many Saturday Night Live characters, along with Gilda herself, greet you with smiles and laughter.
Kathy’s work is part of private collections ranging from Joan Rivers to Prince Charles of England, and she is currently represented by George Billis Gallery.
Kathy’s ability to capture her subjects’ essence using color, intuition and attention to personality, enable her to pour the feeling of a person or object into a portrait that appears to be directly transposed from physical form to canvas in feeling and spirit.
Kathy Coe was born in 1963 in Boonton, New Jersey. From 1981 to 1984, she studied at du Cret School of the Arts with Dr. Furman Finck and at the National Academy of Fine Art from 1985-1990 with Ron Sherr, Harvey Dinnerstein and Mary Beth Mckenzie. She currently lives and works in Connecticut at her home studio.
Artist CV
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1985-1990 The National Academy of Fine Art and Design
1981-1984 Du Cret School of the Arts
The Arts Students League
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Ron Sherr, Furman Finck, Marybeth McKenzie, Harvey Dinnerstein, Burton Silverman
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2017 Inspirations, First Place Rowayton Art Center
2014 Play, RGOA Member Show, Honorable Mention
2010 Finalist, Artists Magazine Competition
1994 The James Sudan Bronze Medal
1993 The Edward Mooney Traveling Scholarship Award
1992 The Salmugundi Silver Medal for drawing
1990 The National Academy Lorraine Grace Award
1991 The Elizabeth Greenshields Grant
1989 The National Academy Helen M. Loggie Award
1984 Best in Show Bernardsville Art Show
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Princeton Club, NYC
Occidental College, LA
Kensington Palace, UK
Joan Rivers
Gene Wilder
Guilda’s Club, NYC
Naturalists Notebook, ME
International Private Collections
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2025, George Billis Gallery, Fairfield, CT
2024, George Billis Gallery, Fairfield, CT
2016 William Pitt Sotheby's, Ridgefield, CT
2015 Drawing from Life, Ridgefield Guild of Artists, CT
2014 Between Two Tides, Building Blocks Gallery Ridgefield, CT 2010 The Stand Gallery, Norwalk CT
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2025, George Billis Gallery, Fairfield, CT
2024, George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2024, Ethan Allen x George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2024, George Billis Gallery, New York, NY
2022 Salmugundi Club, New York, NY, Catharine Lorillard Wolfe
2020 Prince Street Gallery, New York, NY
2020 Gallery at Four, Tiverton, RI
2019 Prince Street Gallery, New York, NY
2018 Prince Street Gallery, New York, NY
2017 Grayscale, Spectrum Annual Juried Art Show, New Canaan, CT 2017 Inspirations, Rowayton Art Center, Norwalk, CT
2016 Rest & Relaxation, Treat Gallery, West 57th Street, NYC
2016 Westport Artists Association
2016 Greenwich Library, Greenwich CT
2015 RGOA Annual Juried Exhibition, Ridgefield, CT
2014 Mark Twain Juried Exhibiton, Redding, CT
2014 RGOA Annual Juried Exhibiton, Ridgefield, CT
2014 Play, RGOA Member Exhibition, Ridefield CT
2012 Naturalist's Notebook Exhibiton, Seal Harbor, ME
2012 Galleriea d'Arte, Ridgefield, CT
2011 Naturalist's Notebook Exhibiton, Seal Harbor, ME
2010 The Paint and Clay Club, New Haven, CT
2009 Member Exhibiton, RGOA, Ridgefield, CT
1992 Salmugundi Show, New York, NY
1990 Avery Fisher Hall, New York, NY
1989 National Academy Annual, New York, NY
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Private Instruction and Workshops for Children and Adults
National Academy of Fine Art and Design, NYC
Ridgefield Guild of Artists, Ridgefield, CT
Gilbert and Bennett Cultural Center, Redding, CT
Naturalists Notebook, Seal Harbor, Maine
Rowayton Arts Center, Norwalk, CT
Meadow Ridge, Redding, CT