Katie Petersen is a painter and educator from Omaha, Nebraska, whose work explores the interconnectedness of the mind and body through movement, meditation, and material exploration. She earned her Master of Fine Arts in Painting from Fort Hays State University in 2023. Working primarily in oil, watercolor, and alcohol ink, Petersen layers figures and gestures like frames of a film to capture rhythm, direction, and the fluidity of motion. Her art often incorporates deeply personal elements such as her own X-rays reflecting vulnerability and the shared human experience of pain and recovery. Following residencies at Arteles in Finland and La Porte Peinte in France, her practice continues to evolve through reflections on women’s bodies, endurance, and presence. Petersen currently serves as Assistant Professor of Fine Arts and Design at Sterling College, where she teaches painting, drawing, and art history while nurturing mindfulness and self-inquiry in her students.