Meet Katelyn Kopenhaver | Multimedia Artist and Photographer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Katelyn Kopenhaver and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Katelyn, we’d love to hear about how you approach risk and risk-taking
Risk-taking started early for me when I was growing up horseback riding. I never shied away from feisty ponies, higher jumps, greener or faster horses. There is a lot of pressure on you once you’re in the show ring. You train and train to perfect everything, and then you have a few minutes to show it. You fall off, get bucked off, or reared off, it’s brutal, but you always get back on; you have to.

I’ve taken my methodologies around horseback riding, and I’ve applied them to everything in life, especially my art and photography career. “Good art” invariably has risks. From the artist itself, the gallery showing the art, or both. A work of art that erupts the room and moves people, literally or metaphorically, is power. I feel risk and courage are from the same household. Courage is the moral compass of risk; it asks, “what are your intentions?” Someone could aimlessly take risks, leading them down a spiral of complex problems; risk without intention has the potential to be lethal.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Thanks! Yes, I wear many different hats that inform one another. For instance, when I am on a photography assignment or capturing portraits of a musician or actor (or anyone), I have a specific modus operandi. I drop all the noise and exteriors and exist with someone in space. I listen and engage, I can read people well, and I am hyper-aware of the photographer/subject dynamic and hierarchy. I am gentle but direct; I settle people who are nervous and make people comfortable. I am a quasi-therapist, confidante problem solver, and, lastly, a photographer. It’s a lot of energy output, but I have it to give, and these photographs are for them, after all. And yes, they are mine, and yes, you will pay me. However, I forever want clients to leave feeling extraordinary and beautiful after having a session with me, and it’s genuine. This work and the other work I am about to discuss can be seen here: https://katelynkopenhaver.com/

When I am working within my art practice, well, that is another story. I am relentless, acerbic, dark, brutally honest, loud, inflammatory, controversial, and probably at times, obnoxious. (Talk about taking risks) My varying projects and concepts consist of text, installation, performance, photography, video, and sometimes, more often than not, my projects overlap mediums. Conceptually I am interested in choice, commodity, omissions, corruption, predation, and the human condition. I am always looking outward and inward, grounding myself and the reality around me. I am interested in site-specific works and guerilla-style work. I have taken legal and physical risks just to make a point. Some examples: I’ve vandalized a major museum, lugged a mattress around and photographed it outside serial predator Jeffrey Epstein’s, former Upper Eastside mansion, showed up to fashion week uninvited with a bunch of women wearing my statemented fur coats, wrote all over New York with red ink, and walk around with statements such as YOU HAVE BEEN LIED TO on my back – this is just who I am. During 2020 I did a site-specific performance photo project where I went to locations where Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell would frequent. I would photograph myself at the location or have someone photograph me with a banner that stated: EPSTEIN IS THE WORST KIND OF VIRUS. Calling out high-profile institutions and evil individuals has proven fatal for many journalists and documentarians. I had numerous friends reach out, concerned for my safety when making this work. A friend of mine called and said, “when you start knocking on the devil’s door, one day the devil is going to answer.”
Risk? Yes. And I did consider knocking on Epstein’s mansion door; I didn’t.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I moved to Miami in October, so I still feel I am not the most knowledgeable here, but I know some. As I’ve gathered, the vibe one is looking for varies depending on the neighborhood. Miami Beach, South of 5th, have a beach day. Oh, and then go to Big Pink for a marvelous and super filling brunch. Some of the best food I’ve had has been at Joe’s Stone Crab, Cote, Novikov, and Ceviche 105. Explore Little Haiti, Coconut Grove, Brickell, Downtown. Besides the glitz and glam, Miami has a lot to offer; explore it all, I haven’t even finished my exploration yet!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Aw! So many people (and books and musicians and artists!) I have a small circle of trustworthy art friends, including my brother, who has helped me bounce ideas, write artist statements, inspire me, support me. EXILE Books in Little Haiti has been so supportive and encouraging in my artistic footing and growth in Miami. They have let me know where to go, who to know, given me a job, and even sell my book “during the day but mostly at night” in their studio. When you’re completely new to a city, you know how valuable and appreciated this is.  Pen + Brush in New York has always had my back and let me explode artistically. They have nurtured that side of my art-making that makes me feel sane, in a way. Like I want to do this performance where I will make folks feel uncomfortable, and they’re like, “We love it, do it.” I keep in touch with former professors from SVA, where I graduated, and am forever grateful for their guidance and teachings (even after all these years later). And, the horses. (And of course my parents, so I could have my many years with the horses) The horses imprinted on my personality in so many beautiful and wild ways, I am a wild woman, and my parents always let me be as such; I am extraordinarily fortunate.

Website: https://katelynkopenhaver.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/katelynkopenhaver/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katelynkopenhaver/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/KatelynKopenhvr

Other: https://alineofkope.com/ My Clothing Brand