Kathie Olivas creates the creepiest art. Carnival gone awry. Her art reminds me of being a kid going to the doctor's office. Remember those pics your doctor had in his office...those ones that were there to somehow comfort you when they just really creeped you out? The only difference is Kathie's art shows you what the kid is really thinking. It's Precious Moments on crack. They look cute and cuddly but they are freakish and demented. I love them! You wouldn't think someone so cute could come up with something so distorted.
Full
Name:
Kathleen Ann Olivas 
Age:29
Currently
Residing:
Tampa, FL, but I'm relocating to Los Angeles in the next couple of months.
Favorite medium:
Oil on wood
Currently Listening to: Interpol, Dr. Steel, Wolf Parade, Yeah, Yeah, Yeahs, Le Tigre, Arcade Fire, Andrew Bird, the list could go on forever
The
children of your art definitely look like they are in misery...where did
the concept come from?
It was inspired by early American portraiture; children were depicted as small adults in a new world-- they were often very crudely rendered, almost like folk art. The misery part I'm not quite sure of; it was more of a political statement for me as a woman
Did the paintings or the sculptures come first?
Paintings; the sculptures are a fun little escape that I explore maybe once or twice a year.
Where would you most like to see your art?
I always enjoy seeing them most in people's homes
Who influences your pieces or how do you come up with a subject for your pieces?
They are usually based on personal stories of friends or colleages and often are in reaction to a current political climate or social unrest. Most of the portraits serve as metaphors and don't represent actual individuals in the physical sense.
Where can people find your art?
In about at least a dozen galleries at any given time in the US, Canada, every so often in Europe-- but my website is the easiest place to find new work or atleast where I'll be showing (www.miserychildren.com)
Have
you ever considered a Misery Children cartoon?
Yes, but I cannot discuss this yet...
What do you find the most challenging in the art world as an artist and as a curator?
Other artists. There are so many emotions and so much drama--good and bad, you never know what to expect, but this "roller coaster" is always what keeps things interesting.
You've been deemed an "art diva"...do you feel this title is appropriate?
Well, I wasn't really aware of that, but I would imagine most artists would be considered "divas"
Who do you feel are some of the most influential new artists to come around recently?
That's
hard to say; most artists have to be working for quite some time before
you see 
whether
others go in their direction. I think that artists such as Maurizio Cattelan,
Barry McGee, Liz McGrath, Jim Houser, and Camille Rose Garcia all have
very unique styles and/ or content that will eventually gather that type
of long term effect.
What's next for Kathie Olivas?
Relocating to the West Coast-- should make for an interesting change
Are you a clown lover?
No, I tend to really hate clowns (mainly just the happy clowns with the obnoxiously large smiles; they really creep me out), although there's a new Jeremy Madl vinyl clown that's coming out that I'm absolutely in love with.
If you would like to learn more about Kathie and her art, please visit: www.miserychildren.com.