Kate’s work is exhibited in galleries and museums throughout the U.S. and Mexico, and acquired by private collections in both countries. She has been featured in Fine Art Connoisseur, American Art Collector, and PoetsArtists, Mod Portrait and the ARC among other publications. She was a 2022 Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize Finalist and earned 2nd Place in the international Fikva award for Painters. Her work was also selected for inclusion in the Peregrine Collection, a time capsule of digitized works of art and literature sent to the moon. Kate is co-owner of Van Doren Metal Art School in San Miguel de Allende, México, where she devotes her time to her family, her art therapy practice, activism work, and fine art studio.
After receiving an honors degree in Fine Art and Psychology from the University of Oregon (2002), Kate earned a double masters in Counseling and Art Therapy at Marylhurst University (2006) . As a board-certified art therapist she has developed and administered art therapy programs for homeless at-risk youth, persons with severe and persistent mental illness, trauma survivors, the elderly, and hospice care. She provides art therapy and art mentorships to artists and art therapy students around the world. She served on the board of Ser Mujer, where she is recognized for her photography and early intervention work to prevent violence against women through the organization’s community program in Mexico. Kate also serves as an artist ambassador for Twist Out Cancer, which pairs artists with cancer survivors to tell their stories, aiding the healing process.
Kate Van Doren (American, b.1978) explores human resiliency, connection, and the healing power of nature in her work. As an art therapist working in the mental health field for more than two decades, Kate offers a unique lens, cultivating connections with her inspirations to foster their stories about the human condition. She is deeply devoted to creating art that raises healing awareness in the lives of others.