Artist Spotlight: Charlotte NC Artist Kate Schultz’ Floral-Inspired Contemporary Art

Apr 9

Flowers are a language that extends far beyond the vase and into the broader world of art, design, and visual storytelling.

This monthly artist spotlight is a space dedicated to exploring that connection. Each feature highlights a fine artist whose work incorporates floral motifs in a way that feels thoughtful, expressive, and distinct—whether through painting, textiles, sculpture, or mixed media.

In celebrating their work, we hope to draw a line between disciplines—to show how floral design exists within a larger creative ecosystem, and how beauty can take shape across mediums.

Enjoy our interview with Charlotte based painter Kate Schultz:

with photographs by Emily Lyons-Wood
Click through images to shop Kate’s paintings

HM: Can you share a bit about your journey to becoming an artist in Charlotte, North Carolina?

KS: Sure! I grew up in Mississippi and was always a creative little being. Frolicking outside, drawing, playing dress up and painting were huge parts of my life growing up. I started painting more seriously in high school and began taking art lessons after my academic classes. In 2012, I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with an emphasis in Painting from the University of Mississippi. After college, I moved back home to Jackson and held various creative jobs. Painting after hours was always consistent! At that time, I really only sold pieces by word of mouth.

Fast-forwarding to the end of 2019, my husband and I were ready for a change of scenery. We both really love the outdoors and we thought North Carolina would suit us really well. Justin accepted a job in Charlotte, so we packed up our home and 2 cats and headed northeast! After the move, I worked an administrative job in holistic health and painted on the weekends. When the pandemic hit, I decided to go full-time and begin the journey of a career in painting! It's been full of ups and downs, but I continue to learn more each day and wouldn't want to be doing anything else.

We bought our house at the end of 2020 and spent several years nesting and prepping our empty, sad backyard to become a beautiful garden. I wanted our backyard to be, perhaps, an oasis from the busy work days. Over the past several years, we planted wildflowers, vegetables, herbs, fruit bushes and different varieties of trees. The seeds and young plants took time to fully root and flourish, but we are finally able to enjoy their blossoms and bounty almost year-round. I'm actually taking a mushroom growing class this weekend, so hopefully we'll be able to add mushrooms to the list next year! My garden and backyard are huge inspirations in my painting journey. If I'm not in my studio, you can find me in the garden.

Schultz in her garden. Photo by Emily Lyons-Wood

HM: What is your favorite flower variety, or two or three, and why?

KS: I'm a huge fan of perennial native wildflowers, particularly echinacea, black-eyed susans and blanket flowers. They are really great for all the pollinators and a nice addition to any garden or yard. Plus echinacea (purple coneflower) has medicinal properties; you can make tea from it to boost the immune system. I'm on a mission to help all the pollinators thrive. We must have bees! Bees are the future!

HM: How do flowers and the natural world influence your creative practice and how/why do they show up in your work?

KS: I consider myself somewhat introverted and as I've gotten older, I really value the calm, slow moments in life. I rarely go out in crowds anymore and I find the most comfort at home and in nature. I love having a cup of tea in my garden, making dinner, reading and going on bird walks. The world is quite chaotic right now, so finding peace in everyday life is really important to me. Working in my garden—planting herbs, flowers, and observing nature—is a meditative practice that I try to do daily; it's a necessity. I want my paintings to be a temporary escape for my viewers. The world is so fast and loud, I hope my paintings bring a sense of peace and calm.

HM: I'm a collector and love your work that features birds and flowers. They feel perfect for springtime in Charlotte, NC, where birds are chirping and blooms are bursting again after winter. Can you tell us more about what inspired these works and how you choose which birds/flowers to pair together?

KS: Thank you so much for your support! To be honest, I find the city a bit overwhelming. I stay on the outskirts and always take the scenic route if I can. I get to see so many nature scenes, animals and birds that I might miss if I were on the interstate. I love watching birds land on different trees or seeing a cat calmly sit in the sun.

One of my favorite garden scenes is watching a goldfinch eat the tops of my flowers, especially sunflowers. Even when flowers die, they provide seeds as nourishment for birds and sometimes even a safe space for pollinators to nestle. Psa: Leave your deadheads over the winter! I love watching Carolina Wrens hop around the garden, they have so much personality and are a joy to paint. Same goes with Carolina Chickadees! I have binoculars readily available near the window so I can view all the birds that come to visit.

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HM: Tell us about your gardening experience, the ups and downs, and what you have learned from gardening.

KS: My husband is more hands-on with the veggies and I handle the flowers and herbs. I'm no master gardener, but I do love to experiment and have a plethora of different herbs around the garden. I have an aunt who also loves to garden so occasionally I'll call her to chat about wildflowers and bees. Late frost is always a lesson learned. What to cover and what not to cover. One year we had the most beautiful tiny sprouts that we hoped would grow into juicy vegetables, but we forgot to bring them inside and a late March frost killed all of them. It's okay, I learned a lesson and now we always bring them inside! Gardening is all about learning lessons and patience. We focus on mindful movements and really take the time to slow down. Each morning we water the plants, nurture them, and ensure they receive adequate sunlight without overexposure. We are reminded that the same applies to humans: take care of your mind and body just like you do your plants—hydrate, nourish, take walks and get some sunlight.