Taylor Pate

Taylor Pate’s work explores themes of coming of age and the transition from girlhood to womanhood. Through narrative symbolism, she reflects on transformation and identity, intertwining these concepts with myth and nature. 

Pate holds a Master of Fine Arts from the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, where she was honored with the Murray Dessner Travel Grant for artistic research. Her work has been featured in publications such as Arts to Hearts Project. Notable exhibitions include “How Deep Is Your Love?” at the William Way LGBT Center in Philadelphia, where she received the Arts Committee Award; “BLUE” and “Balances” at Gallery 8; “Ode to Women” at Two/Two Eight Gallery; and “Converge” at Bridgette Mayer Gallery.

Collect Bean: Are there any recurring themes or motifs in your art, and if so, what do they represent to you?

Taylor Pate: In my other works, I have recently explored the motifs of the fawn and celestial objects such as stars and the moon. The fawn symbolizes the girl—graceful yet uncertain, delicate but not fragile. She is in a liminal moment. Celestial objects, on the other hand, serve as gateways. The stars and moon evoke a sense of distance, yet they also seem intimately connected to a part of me. They embody something both foreign and familiar. The cosmic elements and the fawn are rooted in art history and folklore, representing symbols of mystery and powerful magic.

Collect Bean: Where are you currently finding inspiration?

Taylor Pate: On these winter nights, the sky quickly fades from violet to inky black, and in the darkness, the sound of coyotes howling and yipping echoes from the farm fields behind my home. These tricksters, with their distorted auditory illusion and their gleaming eyes piercing the veil of night, craft for me a realm where imagination and fear entwine, feeding off each other. It is here, where the ordinary transforms into the extraordinary and the boundaries between reality and fantasy fade that I discover inspiration—urged to explore what is hidden, what is magical, and what evocative elements thrive in the shadowy envelope of darkness.

Collect Bean: What role does color play in your practice?

Taylor Pate: Color plays an important role in my artistic practice and is one of my favorite elements to explore. It serves as a tone-setter, allowing me to establish themes, moods, and settings. I've developed two different color palettes that contribute to the overall atmosphere of my pieces: a vibrant palette and an earth-toned palette.

The vibrant palette, characterized by saturated hues, creates a dreamlike quality in my works. It transports the viewer into a realm of heightened emotions and imaginative states. On the other hand, the earth-toned palette places my paintings within a more grounded and organic realm, maintaining a connection to the tangible world. Navigating between these two palettes, I aim to evoke different responses and guide viewers through diverse emotional landscapes.

Collect Bean: What is one of your current goals as an artist?

Taylor Pate: Currently, I’m focused on exploration and avoiding constraints in my work. I’m interested in creating pieces that reflect a wide range of styles and subjects, driven by the rich and varied experiences of life. My goal is to give myself the freedom to respond organically to these experiences rather than limiting my work to specific themes, styles, or color palettes. By embracing this open approach, I hope to capture the natural flow of my creative process and the diverse aspects of my human experience.

Collect Bean: How do you balance your practice with your daily life?

Taylor Pate: As an arts administrator in higher education, I’m fortunate to engage with art regularly, interacting with established artists and students. This exposure keeps me connected with current trends and ideas within the artistic community. While painting and drawing are my primary passions, trail running is a close second. The solitude and natural surroundings during my runs often spark creativity and help me overcome periods of creative block. It’s amazing how a long run can unlock new ideas and insights.

Everything I do supports my artistic practice. While some might not view this as a traditional balance, I’m deeply committed to my work and often immerse myself in it obsessively. I’ve been told that my productivity is quite high, and I see all my activities as contributing to my ability to create the art I’m passionate about.

Collect Bean: How do you incorporate feedback or criticism into your artistic process?

Taylor Pate: I regularly catch up with friends from graduate school through Zoom, where we share updates about our lives and discuss the work we’ve been creating. These sessions are not just about staying connected but also involve giving and receiving feedback on our art. I truly value these meetings, as they provide fresh perspectives on work that I may have been too close to see clearly. Feedback is essential to me—it acts as a new pair of eyes that can offer insights and suggestions I might not have considered. Being open to external criticism helps me step back from my own work and refine my artistic process.

Collect Bean: If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?

Taylor Pate: You know, I wouldn’t give any advice at all! I’m genuinely happy with how my life has unfolded and the work I create, which my experiences have deeply shaped. Any changes to that journey might alter the very place I am now. I needed to be tentative and uncertain and make decisions that others might have questioned to reach this point.

I would advise younger artists to trust their own path and have faith in their journey. Believe that you’re heading exactly where you need to go. Embracing this mindset and trusting in yourself can guide you to where you’re meant to be.

Collect Bean: If you had to describe your work in only three words, what would they be?

Taylor Pate: Melt, float, and shine.

Collect Bean: What is the kindest thing someone can tell you about your work?

Taylor Pate: The kindest thing someone can tell me about my work is that they discover something new each time they look at it. I strive to create pieces that are layered and puzzling, requiring time and care to unravel. My hope is that each artwork remains effective, providing new and exciting elements to uncover with every gaze. I believe what one sees in the work can change based on individual thoughts and feelings, so for people to continue discovering new facets in a piece multiple times is truly the best compliment.

Collect Bean: How do you approach the balance between experimentation and consistency in your art?

Taylor Pate: Balancing experimentation with consistency has been a journey for me. I've learned that experimentation is key to growth, even though it hasn't always been easy. It's tempting to settle into a comfortable pattern, but I've found that once I reach that point, it's time for a change. Currently, I'm exploring both drawing and painting, each in a distinct manner. This diversity in mediums sometimes feels uncomfortable, but I trust that through continued exploration and effort, my style will naturally evolve into its intended form.

Collect Bean: How does where you grew up influence your work?

Taylor Pate: Where I grew up holds immense influence over my work. For a long time, I grappled with wanting to distance myself from that part of my identity, but as I've gotten older, I've come to deeply appreciate it. Appalachia is undeniably special, yet so misunderstood. My goal is to create art that instills pride in my community while also showing people outside the region an Appalachia they never knew.

Collect Bean: If you could be in a show with any artist, who would it be and why?

Taylor Pate: This is a tough call, but I would choose Autumn Wallace. I really admire her work, and the way she captures the fluidity and raw human expression is truly special.