photo credit: Liz Devine

Kate's work, and her approach to its distribution, embodies a wide range of contemporary ethos and practices. She is incredibly versatile as a visual artist, employing drawing, typography, painting, photography, crafts and graphic design in service to a central theme. Using social media as a means for commerce and commentary, she participates cheerfully and critically in consumerism's new frontier.

—Jen Bekman, gallerist and 20x200 CEO & founder

Kate Bingaman-Burt is an illustrator and educator. She has been making work about consumption since 2002, teaching since 2004 and drawing until her hand cramps since 2006. Her first book, Obsessive Consumption: What Did You Buy Today?, was published by Princeton Architectural Press in 2010 and her second book, What Did I Buy Today?, was released from Princeton Architectural Press in December of 2012.

She lives in Portland, Oregon, where, along with being an Assistant Professor of Graphic Design at Portland State University, she also makes piles of work about consumerism: zines! pillows! dresses! drawings! paper chains! photos! Starting in 2002, she photographed everything she purchased (finished in 2004). In 2004, she started drawing all of her credit card statements until they were paid off (finished in 2010). In 2006, she started drawing something she purchased everyday (still drawing!). She also wants to draw your passwords, mix tapes, stolen goods and yard sale signs. On going photo projects include documenting sad, discarded thrift store crafts and Portland free boxes. She will also take a picture of the back of your head if you sit in front of her on the bus.

Along with being an educator and illustrator, she frequently travels to speak and to conduct workshops at a variety of universities and organizations. Her work is represented by Jen Bekman in NYC and she has produced several editions with Jen and 20x200. She shares a workspace with Clifton Burt, Will Bryant and Nicole Lavelle at ADX in Portland.

Past projects have included the following services (with a smile!): handdrawn type, editorial illustration, animation, packaging, book illustration, surface design, installation, curation, information design, strategy, brand development, High Fives and LOLS.