Katie McGowan is redefining contemporary painting with Wavism, a dynamic and immersive approach that transforms movement into form. Her layered, sweeping brushstrokes and bold colour palettes create a sense of rhythm and emotion that transcend traditional figuration.

Inspired by the expressive freedom of Impressionism and the physicality of contemporary impasto techniques, McGowan’s work bridges the gap between intuition and structure, spontaneity and intent.

Central to her practice is the exploration of the female experience, using Wavism as a language to convey narratives of strength, vulnerability, and transformation - capturing the complexities of identity and emotion.

Committed to pioneering Wavism as a new artistic movement, McGowan challenges conventional boundaries, positioning her work at the forefront of contemporary painting.

Her work is not just seen - it is felt, experienced, and lived.

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I don’t paint static moments - I paint movement. Emotion, energy, and transformation are at the core of my work.

Wavism began as an instinct, a way to explore how motion defines form. My early ink studies played with fluidity, using colour in waves rather than rigid outlines. When I transitioned to oil painting, I deepened that exploration, using brushwork to let figures emerge organically - as if carried by currents of light and colour.

Inspired by the expressive dynamism of Impressionism and the bold impasto techniques of contemporary artists like Joseph Lee and Elena Gual, Wavism fuses past and present - a rhythmic, gestural approach that doesn’t just depict emotion, but evokes it. 

At the heart of my practice is the female experience - not as an object to be observed, but as a story to be felt. Strength and vulnerability coexist, just as each brushstroke builds upon another, shaping figures that are alive, shifting and unbound. 

Ultimately, Wavism is not just a technique - it is an invitation. A call to experience art in a way that is visceral, immersive and deeply human.

Featured in:

J/M Gallery 2024

Best of PhotoVogue 2023

Sophie Tea Gallery, Emerging Artists 2023

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I often receive questions from Art students studying my work, please watch my FAQ video on Youtube for more information and add a comment with any other questions. Thank you