"Pieces Of You I stole For My Soul"

The exhibition features a beautiful series of multicolored india ink portraits by Southwest Louisiana native and artist Kat Bertrand. Kat graduated from McNeese State University with a concentration in drawing and graphic design. With a focus on portraiture and the human form, she works most commonly in ink, using fineline pens and india inks. She often creates with the intention to process emotions, situations, and document her appreciation for the little things in life.

Says Kat about the inspiration for this body of work, “I think the most confusing part of your early 20s is trying to figure out who you are exactly. There’s a constant flux depending on where you are and who you’re around. I’ve noticed, though, that I have a favorite version of myself, influenced by characteristics of people I tend to surround myself with the most. I’ve watched them navigate the world in a way I really admire—in a way that was once foreign to me. Now, I’m watching their habits morph into something we share, until it becomes a part of me; until every time I catch myself doing it, I’m thinking of them, and feeling grateful they could teach me to live so fruitfully. It's as though these people reached into my heart and left a piece of themselves for me, and with all the love I have for them, I have no choice but to love this version of myself that they all exist in.”

Other Gallery by the Lake members will also be exhibiting recent works according to their interpretations of the “Pieces of You” theme. The show will run through Saturday, May 4th, 2024.

Come see our Louisiana!