KATARINA THORSEN: VISUAL ARTIST, WRITER, CREATIVE ENGAGEMENT FACILITATOR
Katarina is a visual artist, passionate in her belief that art can build connections. As writer, illustrator and researcher, she published her first book, Drawn Together – Maintaining Connections and Navigating Life’s Challenges with Art, in 2013. Katarina’s current project is a graphic novel series, Joseph – a true story and family saga based in Vancouver BC. The now 20 year project was born out of her volunteer work as researcher on the Babes in the Woods Cold Case Task Force from 2003 to 2004.
Katarina uses creativity to engage whole brain thinking, to foster meaningful dialogue, and to provide safe and inclusive space. She has worked in custody centres, community programs, care facilities, restorative justice organizations, a variety of school districts and within alternative schools. Katarina’s own artwork can be found in private collections in North America and Europe. Her interactive art events and street art encourage participants to become part of the creative process.
Born in Sweden, Katarina is deeply grateful to live, work and play on the unceded traditional territories of the Coast Salish peoples of the xʷməθkwəy̓əm (Musqueam), Skwxwú7mesh (Squamish), Səlbílwətaɬ (Tsleil-Waututh) Nations.
Publications
2013 Drawn Together – Maintaining Connections and Navigating Life’s Challenges with Art (book)
2022 JOSEPH, The Prologue (Limited edition Broadsheet)
Awards and Grants
2010 City of North Vancouver Civic Youth Award – Outstanding Supporter of Youth
2014 Women of Worth- Humanitarian of the Year
2021 Yosef Work Publication Fund at Vancouver Heritage Foundation
2023 British Columbia Arts Council Individual Arts Award – Creative Writers
2023 Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity Residency Scholarship
2024 The Denis Diderot Grant, Chateau d’Orquevaux: Artist Residency, France
Residencies
2023 Banff Centre for Arts and Creativity Residency Spring Thematic – Graphic Novels and Visual Narrative
2024 Chateau d’Orquevaux: Artist Residency, France
CONTACT: katarina@katthorsen.com
LINKEDIN: www.linkedin.com/in/katarinathorsen
JOSEPH the prologue © Katarina Thorsen 2022 