IN THE STUDIO WITH

KRISTIN MCGRAW

Painter, storyteller, and quiet observer of liminal spaces.

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ARTIST'S INTRODUCTION & STATEMENT

Hi, I’m Kristin.

I’m a painter and writer based just outside Chicago, working mostly in oils and often in quiet. My work lives in that in-between space — part ritual, part exploration, part unraveling.

I paint what I can’t always say out loud: moments of tenderness, tension, and transformation. My studio smells like turpentine and old books, there’s usually coffee going cold on the table, and a dog curled up underfoot.

My work explores introspection, the body as vessel, and the tension between ritual and rawness. Through expressive figurative painting, I examine subconscious spaces, symbolic archetypes, and the quiet moments where transformation begins.
Influenced by anthropology, mythology, and the mundane sacred, each piece invites viewers into a space of self-reflection and personal inquiry.

My hope? That when you see my work, you feel a little less alone in the wildness of being human.

STUDIO RELICS

Field Note | In Progress | Studio Mess | Relic | Palette

ARTIST BIO 

Kristin McGraw is a contemporary figurative painter based outside Chicago, IL. She studied fine art at the American Academy of Art, and her work has been featured in Voyage Chicago, Almost Real Things, and Illusion 360 Magazine.

Her paintings explore themes of introspection, transformation, and the tension between the sacred and the everyday.

Curriculum Vitae

Education

Bachelors of Fine Art, Oil Painting
American Academy of Art, Chicago, IL


Exhibitions

2023 — Field Notes, Group Exhibition, Sparrow & Finch Gallery, Portland, OR
2023 — Under the Surface, Juried Exhibition, The Art Center Highland Park, IL
2022 — Quiet Rituals, Two-Person Show, Blue Door Gallery, Detroit, MI
2022 — Body & Artifact, Group Exhibition, Artema Collective, Chicago, IL
2020 — Unraveling Threads, Group Show, ArtHouse Chicago, IL
2019 — Peace of Art Gallery | Group Exhibition
2019 — Going Dutch, Side Street Studio
2017 — Lexicon, Zhou B Gallery, Chicago, IL
2016 — Trend, RAW Artist Showcase, Metro, Chicago
2016 — P&B Group Exhibition, Part II, Chicago, IL
2015 — Visual Literacy, Literacy Lounge Gallery, Chicago
2015 — Y Portraits: Awakenings, Group Exhibition, Mazowa Gallery, Chicago
2015 — Going Dutch, Core Project Group Exhibition, Chicago
2015 — Home is Where, Arterie Fine Arts, Naperville, IL
2015 — Artist Table Juried Exhibition (Online) — Tali’s Choice Award
2015 — P&B Group Exhibition, Chicago, IL
2010 — President’s Award, American Academy of Art Juried Show
2009 — Honorable Mention, American Academy of Art Juried Show
2007 — Honorable Mention, Effingham Art Guild Group Exhibition




Publications & Features

2024 — Studio Stories: Kristin McGraw on Ritual and Introspection, The Art Journal
2023 — The Quiet Power of Symbolism in Figurative Art, Canvas Quarterly
2023 — Artist Spotlight: Kristin McGraw, Create! Magazine
2022 — Finding Magic in the Everyday: An Interview with Kristin McGraw, Breathe Magazine
2021 — Women to Watch: Rising Voices in Contemporary Painting, Artforum Online
Harness Magazine — Modern Seer and the Power of Introspection and Inclusivity
Voyage Chicago — Artist Interview
Almost Real Things — Issues 11 + 12
Thought Journal — Cycles
Illusion 360 Magazine — Less Than, Greater Than


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Whether you’re looking to inquire about a piece, commission a painting, or just say hello — I’d love to hear from you. Fill out the form below, and let’s start creating something beautiful together.

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thank YOU!

Thank you for reaching out! I’ll get back to you as soon as I can, and I’m excited to connect with you. In the meantime, feel free to explore my latest collections.

KRISTIN MCGRAW