Here, we ask an artist about the essential details behind a recent work.
Bio: Catherine Haggarty, 40, Brooklyn
Title of work: Afterlife, 2024.
Where to see it: My solo show, “Just Drawing,” at Geary Contemporary (34 Main Street, Millerton, NY), from June 8–July 28.
Three words to describe this work: Dedication, love, honoring.
What was on your mind at the time: Paying attention to wood grain has helped me honor the handmade and those who’ve passed on through using craftsmanship as both a process and subject. The wood floor, which also grounds us, acts as a surface and a location. Most of my work is collaged from various sources. I find this to be an appropriate way to generate paintings and drawings because life always holds multiple truths simultaneously.
I found a cross in making this work which all began thinking about losing my father in 2022. Using the gems he used to carve in his wood work is a connection to his life. Art making is often a collaboration—this is mine.
An interesting feature that’s not immediately noticeable: I’m not very interested in naming the features of a work. I prefer people to look for themselves.
How the work reflects your practice as a whole: It comes from the gut, not the brain. That’s how I approach my work in the studio.
One song that captures the work’s essence: “Float On” by Mark Kozelek.