Vancouver-based Art Director, Graphic Designer, and Visual Artist.
Catherine believes that great ideas have the power to affect human perception, experiences, and emotions. She is unwavering in her pursuit of provocative creative solutions and powerful visual language.
Catherine studied Fine Arts at UBC Okanagan and received a BFA with a major in Visual Arts and a minor in Art History and Visual Culture. Her work as an artist has been displayed in over 30 exhibitions, both locally and internationally, and she has been published in several printed and digital catalogues. Catherine graduated at the head of her class, receiving the Medal in Fine Arts as well as other distinctions during her degree.
She has dedicated her work as an artist to exploring themes of time and memory, and the power of nature. Through the mediums of painting, drawing, and printmaking, Catherine immerses herself into the process. To her, the physical act of creating the works (the movements, the pauses, the mistakes) has an important impact on the final piece of art and is directly tied to the viewer’s experience. She has always considered the audience to be a vital part of a work of art, affirming that one’s experience when looking at a piece of art is as important as the experience while creating it.
Informed by her intuitive approach for aesthetics, Catherine has worked with a variety of Vancouver based vertical retail brands in areas of merchandising and visual display design. She holds an intimate understanding of what makes great brands work, and how the brand can come to life in a variety of visual areas. Following her BFA and work in visual merchandising, she obtained a certificate of Graphic Design from BCIT in Vancouver, where she refined and amplified her approach to visual design.
As an Art Director, Catherine expertly blends art and design to create a cohesive aesthetic that communicates a company’s vision to the world. She is extremely versed in digital, print, and physical mediums as a designer, understanding that the visual experience is multi-dimensional and has a direct impact on our behaviour.
Curriculum Vitae
Education
2017-2018
Certificate of Graphic Design BCIT, Vancouver, BC
2011-2015
Bachelor of Fine Arts (Major in Visual Art, Minor in Art History and Visual Culture) University of British Columbia Okanagan, Kelowna, BC
Solo Exhibitions
2015
Borderline - Vernon Public Art Gallery, Vernon, BC
Group Exhibitions
2018
The Colour Event - Beaumont Gallery, Vancouver, BC
2015
Shelf Life Traveling Exhibition - Vernon Public Art Gallery, Vernon, BC
The Parallel Collective: Re- -Alternator Gallery, Kelowna, BC
Shelf Life: BFA Grad Exhibition - UBCO, Kelowna, BC
The Parallel Collective with Sicamous Stories - Alternator Gallery, Kelowna, BC
Inkbelly: Student Print Exhibition - Kelowna Art Gallery, Kelowna, BC
Student International Small Print Show (SIPS15) - El Minia University, El Minia, Egypt
Art on the Line - UBCO, Kelowna, BC
Advanced Painting Exhibition - FINA Gallery, UBCO, Kelowna, BC
Intermission Presents: Art on the Line - Alternator Gallery, Kelowna, BC
2014
Beyond the Invisible: An Art Installation Exhibition - Kelowna, BC
Metamorphasis: UBCO Art Party - UBCO, Kelowna, BC
VISA 482 Fourth Year Show - FINA Gallery, UBCO, Kelowna, BC
13th Lessedra World Art Print Annual – Sofia, Bulgaria
Infinite Clarity: Student Photography Exhibition – Alternator Gallery, Kelowna, BC
Young: Student Art Exhibition – French Cultural Center, Kelowna, BC
INK: Advanced Printmaking Exhibition – FINA Gallery, UBCO, Kelowna, BC
The Deep End: Advanced Painting Exhibition – FINA Gallery, UBCO, Kelowna, BC
Art on the Line - UBCO, Kelowna, BC
Student International Small Print Show (SIPS14) - El Minia University, El Minia, Egypt
2013
UBC Okanagan Visual Arts Exhibition Showcase – Kelowna, BC
12th Lessedra World Art Print Annual – Sofia, Bulgaria
We Have So Much To Give Art Show: Community Art Exhibition – Ladner, BC
Exhibition for the Inbetween World: Student Art Exhibition – French Cultural Center, Kelowna, BC
ec.lec.tic: Drawing Installation and Exhibition - FINA Gallery, UBCO, Kelowna, BC
2012
We Have So Much To Give Art Show: Community Art Exhibition – Ladner, BC
Painted Landscape Exhibition – FINA Gallery, UBCO, Kelowna, BC
Wearable Art Gala - Laurel Packing House, Kelowna, BC
Awards and Recognition
2015
UBCO Medal in Fine Arts
2014
Craig Hall Memorial Visual Arts Scholarship in Printmaking
UBCO Dean's Honor Roll
UBCO Deputy Vice Chancellor Scholarship for Continuing Students
2013
BC Arts Council Scholarship
Craig Hall Memorial Visual Arts Scholarship in Printmaking
UBCO Dean’s Honor Roll
UBCO Deputy Vice Chancellor Scholarship for Continuing Students
2012
UBCO Dean’s Honor Roll
UBCO Deputy Vice Chancellor Scholarship for Continuing Students
UBC Okanagan President’s Entrance Scholarship
Richmond Sunrise Rotary Club Scholarship
Richmond Fire Fighters Jock Murdoch Memorial Scholarship
Dogwood District Authority Award Scholarship
2011
Artistic Representation
2014
New Blood Art Canada
2013
Ballantyne Online Gallery
Online Publications and Catalogues
Shelf Life: BFA Grad Exhibition (catalogue)
pro/con/textual, Threshold, & Borderline at the Vernon Public Art Gallery - Okanagan Art Review
Featured Artist (cover) OK Magpie Magazine (print)
The Parallel Collective - Ouija Magazine (print)
Featured Artist - Ouija Magazine (print)
Featured Artist - YouBeSeeOh Zine (print)
Road Trip Culture on Display at the Alternator - The Phoenix News (print)
Artists on the Line: Catherine Bennington & Megan Perra - The Phoenix News (print)
Art on the Line Feature - Shaw TV Okanagan (digital)
In Focus: Catherine Bennington - Okanagan Art Review (digital)
13th Lessedra World Art Print Annual (catalogue)
12th Lessedra World Art Print Annual (catalogue)
Collections
University of British Columbia Okanagan Print Archives
Private Collections