BIO

Uprooted from Texas as an infant, my Arkansas childhood unfolded against a backdrop of impermanence. A fractured family structure was bolstered by the unwavering support of a multigenerational Southern family, a dynamic that shaped my early years. Even amidst nature's destructive power, a force I encountered firsthand when a tornado demolished our home, the outdoors offered solace. It was here, in the face of both beauty and devastation, that art-making emerged as a grounding force amidst the constant upheaval.

Molded by this enduring connection to nature, I developed a deep respect for our environment and a keen awareness of both humanity's fragility and its lasting impact. This concern for our ecological footprint resonates strongly in my anti-disciplinarian artistic practice, particularly within the "Bots" and "Mutants" series. In these works, abandoned toys become metaphors for our throw-away culture. 

Compelled by my vexation with consumerism and its effect on our world; along with my relentlessly curious nature, I take motor-driven robotic plush toys and transform them. Hands wielding scissors, I massacre these discarded products, eviscerating them through a Geppetto-like taxidermy until I get down into the guts of the piece. Skinning these stuffed animals to the bone, all that remains are their various articulated plastic limbs and bodily armature (that were never intended to be seen), which contains the preserved mechanisms that gave these once-cuddly stuffed possessions their life-like movement and sound. 

After disassembling the remains, I cast some of the pieces in bronze and sterling silver. Next, I engage in a Frankensteinian re-assembly of the new parts, which involves re-fittings and manipulations and, at times, re-installation of original circuit boards, batteries, gears, and voice boxes.

The resulting reincarnations through metamorphosis have aged, even wizened. Some are silent, static statuesque figures. These “Mutants” are a testament to their cherished past, while others that I call “Bots,” retain a flicker of life. Reanimated with their original mechanisms, they become kinetic beings, with hollow voices and awkward, geriatric movements – a result of their evolved, hardened armatures, echoing their forgotten history. This evolution propels both incarnations out of the private toy chest and into public spaces for contemplation. 

Now, part historical/figural sculpture, part archaeological artifact, they each become a Trojan Horse, the cavity filled with a Pandora's Box of memories. Despite bursting with bubbly personalities, these anthropomorphic creatures tell a story about our societal penchant for instant gratification, over-production, and chronic excessive consumption. Newly risen one-of-a-kind beasts are now vessels holding a multitude of messages, each one carrying a hidden history, a complicated present and a reimagined future.

By unearthing the hidden value within the things we casually discard and disregard, my artwork creates something that lasts, a testament to resilience against the odds, that asks viewers to consider the impact we have on each other and on the world in which we co-exist.

BORN Abilene, Texas 

LIVES Seattle, WA

EDUCATION  

1997 MFA University of Washington, Seattle, WA

1995 BFA Texas Tech University, Cum Laude, Lubbock, TX 

SELECTED SOLO EXHIBITIONS  

2023 Cathy McClure - Unearth, Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA 

2021 - 2022 Cathy McClure: Re-Imagineering, School of Art Studio + Folio Gallery, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX
2020 Cathy McClure - ReImagineer, Louise Hopkins Underwood Center for the Arts, Lubbock, TX   2017-2018 Dispossessed, Center for Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA
2015 The Art of Play, Sidney Museum, Port Orchard, WA 

2014-2015 Revisionism, Method Gallery, Seattle, WA  

2013 Mickey Hardwired, Moss Bureau, New York, NY
2011-2013 Midway-Traveling Exhibition, Moss Bureau, New York, NY, Edelman Arts, New York, NY, Bellevue Arts Museum, Bellevue, WA   

2010-2011 Curiosities, Traffic Art Space, New York, NY
2009-2010 Menagerie, Nassau County Museum, Roslyn Harbor, NY
2009 Remains, Moss Gallery, New York, NY
2007 Menagerie, Neuhoff/Edelman Gallery, New York, NY
2005 A Raucous Look at the Persistence of Vision, MUSA, Seattle, WA 2003 Meet George Jetson, Bumbershoot Music and Arts festival, Seattle, WA
2001 Here I Am, Entertain Me! Commencement Art Gallery, Tacoma, WA
1999 Team works, New Kinetic Sculpture, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts, San Francisco, CA
1999 Le Quai Fete, Les Frigos, Paris, FR
1998 Carnival of Life, Meyerson & Nowinski, Seattle, WA 

SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS  

2024 Weird Earth, Base Camp Studios, Seattle, WA

2023 Seattle Art Fair, Traver Gallery, Seattle, WA 

2023 Lab Test 2, 9th & Thomas, Seattle, WA 

2023 XO23, Coliseum Theater, Seattle, WA 

2023 Art on Paper, J Reinhart Gallery, New York, NY  

2023 Art Market San Francisco, San Francisco, CA 

2017-2018 Sabbath, Dorothy Saxe Invitational, Contemporary Jewish Museum, San Francisco, CA   2016 The Future is Now, Gallery One, Ellensburg, WA
2016 Electrique, The Hollows, Williamsburg, NY
2016 Giant Steps, King Street Station, Seattle, W A  2014 Pulse NY, Freight + Volume, New York, NY
2013 Art Southampton, Edelman Arts, The Hamptons, NY
2012 MOSS: Dialogues Between Art & Design, Phillips de Pury & Company, New York, NY  

2012 St. Sebastian, Art Miami-Edelman Arts, Miami, FL  

2011 St. Sebastian, Edelman Arts, New York, NY  

2011 Arthur, Moss, New York, NY 2011Under a Full Moon, Moss, New York, NY  

2010 Art Miami, Edelman Arts, Miami, FL 

2010 Holiday 2010, Moss, New York, NY 2009 Poncho Invitational, Western Bridge, Seattle, WA 

2009 Art Miami, Moss, Miami, FL 2008 The Toy Show, Hans Weiss Newspace Gallery, Manchester, CT   2006 Wired Forest, Kirkland Arts Space, Kirkland, WA 

2005 People Doing Strange Things With Electricity ll, Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA  

2005 Obsessions, Thread For Art, Seattle, WA  

2005 Outside In, Bumbershoot Music and Arts festival, Seattle, WA 

2004 Labor Lines, Thread for Art, Seattle, WA 

2004 Hindsight: Frozen Moments, Consolidated Works, Seattle, WA 

2003 Speak and Spell, Pound Gallery, Seattle, WA  

2003 The Last Judgment Project, Bumbershoot Music and Arts festival, Seattle, WA 

2003 Fashion is Art, Bumbershoot Music and Arts festival, Seattle, WA 

2003 Coupling, Ceramic Metal Arts Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 

2003 Dorkbot, Center on Contemporary Art, Seattle, WA 

2003 Speak and Spell, SOIL Gallery, Seattle, WA 

2003 First War of the New Millennium, SOIL Gallery, Seattle, WA 

2003 LAVA 2002: Seattle Contemporary Art, Noodleworks Gallery, Seattle, WA 

2001 Pop Mechanics, Milton Hershey Museum, Hershey, PA 

2001 Fuseball, Consolidated Works, Seattle WA 

2001 Independent Exposure, Vital 5 Productions, Seattle, WA  

2001 Pop Mechanics, Susquehanna Art Museum, Harrisburg, PA 

2001 Public Dedication Day Performance, First Light, Bellevue Art Museum, WA 

2001 Domesticity, Donut Shop 3, Portland, OR 

2000 Pigs on Parade, sponsors: Niketown, Washington Mutual, Seattle, WA 

2000 Pacific Northwest Annual, Bellevue Art Museum, Bellevue, WA 

2000 Art and Technology-Media for the New Century, Archer Gallery, Clark College, Vancouver, WA 

2000 Donut Shop Two, Donut Shop, Portland, OR 

2000 Art & Technology: A Marriage for a New Millennium, Bush Barn Art Center, Salem, OR 

1998 Bellevue Sculpture Exhibition, Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue, WA 

1998 Betty Bowen Award Twentieth Anniversary, Washington State Convention Center, Seattle, WA 1998 Home Alive Benefit, Richard Hugo House, Seattle, WA 

1997 Betty Bowen Award Presentation, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA 

1997 MFA Thesis Exhibition, Henry Art Gallery,Seattle, WA  

1996 Scissor Kick, Ceramic Metal Arts Gallery, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 

1996 The Box, Gallery of Fine Woodworking, Seattle, WA 

1996 Works in Progress, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle, WA  

1996 Spiral, Highland Park Gallery, Dallas, TX 

1995 Works on Paper + Small 3-D, Jacob Lawrence Gallery, Seattle, WA 

1995 FOVA Eighth Annual Student Competition, FOVA Gallery, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 

1994 North American Juried Student Exhibition, Contemporary Crafts Gallery, Portland, OR 

1994 New Statements in Sterling, National Student Sterling Design Competition, Traveling Exhibition, Coeur d'Alene Resort, Coeur d'Alene, ID, Sea First Bank, Spokane, WA, Lever House, New York, NY, The NY Merchandise Mart, New York, NY, Frye Art Museum, Seattle WA

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS  

Costello, Lindsey. One Really Great Thing to Do Cathy McClure, The Stranger, September 2023. 

Davis, Brangien. A playful barrage of collage at Seattle arts spaces, Crosscut, September 14, 2023.  Vansynghel, Margo. Seattle’s New Convention Center Features $7.75M in Local Art, January 25, 2023. Staff writer. Cathy McClure: Reimagineer at LHUCA”, Glasstire, Texas, October 24, 2020.
Wynkoop, Gena. Artist of the W eek: Cathy McClure, KOMO , Seattle Refined, March 23, 2019.  

Flock, T.S. Art in Focus: Cathy McClure’s “State of the Union” at CoCA, Vanguard, January 4, 2018.  Boutiette, Isabel. Cathy McClure dissects toys in Dispossessed, Seattle Met, November 11, 2017.  

Roth, Cambria. Is There Still Room for Artists In Seattle?, Crosscut, January 13, 2016. 

Smith, Bob. Child's Play: A New Metallic Look for Kid Toys at Sidney Gallery, June 4, 2015. 

Frohne, Lauren. Robotic Art Reveals Beauty Beneath Toys, Seattle Times, Dec 5, 2014.
Smith, LaVendrick. How Seattle Artist Cathy McClure Makes Metal Art,Seattle Times, Dec 5, 2014.  Hutson, Laura. Studio Visit, Cathy McClure, Nashville Scene, March 26, 2013.
Boury, Katherine. A Cup of Goodwill, Seattle Goodwill blog, August 20, 2013. 

Vargas, Tony. Hamptons Main Street, July 27, 2013. 

Zara, Janelle. Murray Moss- the Unconventional Wisdom Fueling Phillips Auction, Oct 21, 2012.  

Zara, Janelle. You Interupt, Deal With Us: Murray Moss Invites You, Art Info, May 22, 2012.   

Wilson, Elizabeth. St. Sebastian 1530-2011 at Edelman Arts, Art News, April, 2012. 

Clemans, Gayle. Cathy McClure's Midway at BAM, Seattle Times, July 28, 2011.  

Miller, Brian. Cathy McClure, Seattle Weekly, 2011. 

Metcalf, Bruce. Remains: Cathy McClure, Metalsmith Magazine, Vol. 30, No. 3, Page 55. 2010.
Vilades, Pilar. Now Showing/Stuffed Animals, Cuddly No More, New York Times, Nov 18, 2009.  

Payne, Patti. McClure, Puget Sound Buisiness Journal, Page 21, October 9-15, 2009. 

Sanchez, Marisa. Betty Bowen Award Thirty Years, catalog, Pages 48-49, 2009. 

Kobasa, Stephen. Playing For Real-Reconsidering childhood things, Hartford Advocate, Feb 28, 2008. Baker , R. C. Best In Show – Cathy McClure Menagerie, Village Voice, November 20, 2007.
Haden-Guest, Anthony. Affordable Art Bus is Always on Time, Financial Times, January 6/7, 2007. Haden-Guest, Anthony. Cathy McClure – Menagerie, solo show catalog, 2007. 

Hackett, Regina. In the Galleries, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, February 2, 2006 

Scherer, Samantha . First War of the New Millennium, SOIL, catalog, 2005. 

Seekings, Kate. People Doing Strange Things w/ Electricity-art using tech/tech making art, catalog, 2005.  

Wagonfeld, Judy. Hindsight and foresight at play when Frozen Moments evolve. Seattle PI, May 21,2004. 

Graves, Jen. Fashion Is...electric, individual... Fashion Is Art. Tacoma News Tribune, August 31, 2003.  Staff writer. Visual Art Picks Frozen Moments. Seattle Weekly, June 9, 2004. 

Fahey, Anna. Fashion Is Art, Thread for Art, Page 26, exhibition catalog, 2003. 

Parvez, D. Fashion statements, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, August 29, 2003. 

Syme, Chad. Get Me Off This Crazy Thing, solo show catalog, 2003. 

Catalani, Stefano. The Last Judgment Project, Seattle, Pages 32-33, catalog, 2003. 

Farr, Sheila. Exhibits show a fashion sense you’ll want to devour, The Seattle Times, 2003. 

Sillman, Marcie. Dorkbot, The Beat, NPR, November, 2003.
Curtis, Molly Norris. Bumbershoot Visual Arts Preview, Art Access, July/August, 2003. 

Fahey, Anna. The Impulse for First War of the New Millennium, Art Papers, September 2002.
Farr, Sheila. In words that chill, in a haunted stare-the impact of Sept. 11, Seattle Times, May 10, 2002. Fahey, Anna. LAVA 2002, Thread for Art, exhibition catalog, Pages 82-85, 2002. 

Hall, Emily. Pay Attention, Please. Artists Before the Eruption, The Stranger, May 30, 2002. 

Christopher, Brian M. Sci-Fi Art Exhibit Pushes Envelope, Intelligencer Journal, January 19, 2001.
Lewis, Zachary. Art Museum’s Side Show Geared to Mechanical, Patriot News, January 21, 2001. 

Kelly, Sara. Perfect collaboration, Tacoma Reporter, March 22, 2001.  

American Craft, Cathy McClure, First Light, April/May, 2001.  

Hall, Emily. Tinkerer’s Toy-Cathy McClure’s Nagging Animation Obsession, The Stranger, Aug 10, 2000. Row, D.K. The rough edges of high art, The Oregonian, September, 2000. 

Kangas, Matthew. Installations outshine paintings, Seattle Times, August 11, 2000. 

Hackett, Regina. BAM’s Pacific Northwest Annual, Seattle Post-Intelligencer, July 11, 2000. Fredrickson, Eric. Look at Me! Young and New in Bellevue, The Stranger, August 12, 2000. 

Maclay, Catherine. The Illusions of Zoetrope, Silicon Valley News, June 13, 1999.
Bonetti, David. Solo Works Grab Attention Yerba Buena Center, San Francisco Examiner, July 6, 1999. Staff writer. Kumi Yamashita, Cathy McClure, Bay Guardian, June 8, 1999. 

Im, Soyon. The Hit List, The Seattle Weekly, March 19, 1998. 

Spencer, Kelly. Bellevue Arts Commission Indoor Exhibition Catalog, Page 10, July 17, 1998. 

Halper, Vicki. Betty Bowen Award Twentieth Anniversary Edition, Page 26, catalog, 1998. 

Staff writer. McClure Wins Bowen award, Artweek, January, 1998. 

Staff writer. Art News! Cathy McClure, Artweek. January, 1998. 

Updike, Robin. McClure’s Magic Circus Intricate Installation Young Artist, Seattle Times, Mar 12, 1998.  Fredrickson, Eric. Zoetroparific! The Stranger, March 13, 1998.
Johnson, Lara. Cathy McClure’s Carnival of Life, The University Daily, February 23, 1998. 

Hackett, Regina. Craft Values Dominate in Pioneer Square, Seattle Post Intelligencer, March 13, 1998. Updike, Robin. A Shadow Reality in trick of the Light. Cathy McClure, Seattle Times, Nov 30,1997. Nakane, Kazuko. Where Do They Go After School? Artweek, August, 1997.

SELECTED COLLECTIONS  

Josh Rechnitz, New York, NY  

White House Permanent Collection, Washington, DC  

CCS Bard Permanent Collection, Annondale-on-Hudson, NY   

The Pace Permanent Collection, Dallas, TX  

Asher and Michelle Edelman, Glion, Switzerland
Murray Moss and Franklin Getchell, Hamden, CT
Barbara and Donald Tober, New York, NY
Les Frigos Permanent Collection, Paris, France

Guy and Nora Barron, West Bloomfield, MI
 

SELECTED HONORS & PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE  

2024 Artist in Residence, McColl Center for the Arts, Charlotte, NC  

2024 Invited Pilot Program - Artist in Residence, iolair, Orcas Island, WA 

2017-2023 Artist Consultant, Seattle Convention Center – Summit Addition Project, Seattle, WA  

2018-2022 Commissioned Public Artwork, Seattle Convention Center Summit, Seattle, WA
2021 Artist in Residence, Vashon Artist Residency, Vashon, WA
2020-2023 Public Artist Roster - Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia, WA  

2020-2023 Public Artist Roster - The City of Seattle Office of Arts & Culture's Public Artist Roster 

2020 Guest Speaker, 2020 Texas Metals Symposium, Lubbock, TX
2018 Artist in Residence, Pilchuck School of Glass, Stanwood, WA
2015-2018 Public Artist Roster - Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia, WA  

2015 Guest Speaker, 2015 Texas Metals Symposium, Lubbock, TX
2014 Artist Trust Fellowship, Seattle, WA
2012-2015 Public Artist Roster – Washington State Arts Commission, Olympia, WA  

2010 Artist in Residence, Traffic, New York, NY
2009 Merit Award, Poncho, 2009 Invitational, Seattle, WA
2002 Outside the Box, Downtown YMCA, Youth Exhibition Curator, Seattle, WA 

2000 Best in Show, Pacific Northwest Annual, Bellevue Art Museum, WA
2000 People’s Choice Award, Pacific Northwest Annual, Bellevue Art Museum, WA
1999 Artist in Residence, Les Frigos, Paris, FR
1997 Betty Bowen Memorial Award, Grand Prize, Seattle Art Museum, Seattle, WA  

1996 Marsh Scholarship, School of Art, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 

1995 Gonzales Scholarship, School of Art, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 

1995 Gonzales Scholarship, School of Art, University of Washington, Seattle, WA 

1995 Teaching Assistantship, Arrowmont School of Arts and Crafts, Gatlinburg, TN  

1995 HYPrice Merit Scholarship, TexasTech University, Lubbock, TX 1995 Arts Alliance Scholarship, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 1994 HYPrice Merit Scholarship, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX  1994 Art Memorial Scholarship, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, TX 

1994 Friends of Arrowmont Scholarship, Arrowmont School of Art, TN