Katie Bodnar

Katie is a Chicago-based artist who was raised in Portage, Indiana. She discovered her passion for creating art at a young age and was raised in a family that nurtured her creativity through access to new tools, mediums, and guidance from family members working in and alongside the arts. Her early interest in art continued through grade school and expanded in high school, where she completed advanced studio courses in painting and ceramics and began accepting commissions for friends and family.

 

During high school, Katie participated in numerous juried art shows and received multiple awards, including recognition at an exhibition held at the University of Notre Dame in 2012. She continued her artistic education at Indiana University, with numerous studio courses, just short of a minor in fine arts. During her time in college, she began selling her work through Instagram, marking an early step toward building an independent art practice.

 

In 2019, Katie graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Business, majoring in Marketing. She has since worked in sales and marketing roles while continuing to grow her art career alongside her professional work. She currently maintains a home studio in Chicago, where she balances full- time employment with an expanding portfolio of commissioned artwork.

 

Katie launched her Etsy shop in August 2023 and has developed a specialization in watercolor house portraits, with a particular focus on Chicago architecture and neighborhoods. As of 2026, she has completed portraits and drawings of over 40 homes and businesses spanning throughout 12 Chicago neighborhoods, the greater Chicagoland area, and across the United States.

 

Art has been a constant presence in Katie’s life, and she now works as a part-time professional artist with the long-term goal of transitioning fully into an independent art career. Although she has been selling artwork for over a decade, she views this phase of her artistic career as the beginning of a new and focused chapter in her journey.

Visit www.wickerparkbucktown.com to view more art around WPB.