Brushstrokes in Unity, Colors of a Life

When I first began inviting artists to the Bisheh Project, I held a quiet hope in my chest — that those who joined would do more than write letters. I hoped they would carry the heart of this archive: its devotion to vulnerability, honesty, resilience, and care.

From the start, I felt Kate Hopkins was one of those rare souls.

Her practice — rooted in watercolor, steeped in process — moves with a kind of quiet grace that stayed with me. Each brushstroke in her work doesn’t stand alone; it leans gently into the next, forming something communal, something whole. There’s a stillness in her paintings — not of silence, but of belonging.

Her colors speak softly but with conviction. They feel weathered and wise, as though drawn from years of watching the earth breathe — from skies shifting, stones warming, wings rising, leaves falling. They hold the patience of someone who listens more than she speaks. They hold peace.

When I asked Kate to contribute, I already sensed she would bring this same spirit to the page. And she did. Her letter confirmed what I had quietly hoped all along: that she would be the first voice to join mine in the archive.

I am deeply grateful for her presence, her vision, and the light she brings to this beginning.

Painted Weaving No. 5 (Thank you, Rosemarie), 2023
Watercolor and graphite on Arches hot press
20.5” x 20.5”

🌿 Learn more about Kate’s work: www.katehopkinsstudio.com

Negin

Curator, Bisheh Project