About Kathleen

Kathleen Petitjean has been painting, sculpting and drawing since she first took a crayon to her bedroom ceiling when she was three. Apart from the crayons, clay, and ink, Kathleen worked closely with individuals with autism and other special needs as an Occupational Therapist for nearly thirty years.  

Kathleen formed a non-profit sustainability organization that spear-headed the Rain Barrel Project in her community. This project connected businesses, the arts and schoolchildren to raise awareness of water conservation through art. Through this endeavor, enough funds were raised to install a green (living) roof on South Bend’s Conservatory.

Kathleen’s Venus Silvae ceramic sculpture works have won numerous awards and feature in collections from California, Florida and Chicago to Germany, Italy and Norway.

In her work as an OT, Kathleen used Newfoundland dogs to help teach interactional skills to individuals with special needs. This work inspired Kathleen’s book, The ABC of Mannerly Me. The Newfoundland teacher in the book is based on Galileo, Kathleen’s real-life therapy dog.

What People Are Saying

“Kathleen’s drawings capture the sensitivity of her subjects with poignant messages about being kind.”

-Margaret G. on Kathleen’s book, The ABC of Mannerly Me
The ABC of Mannerly Me

“The beauty comes from your passion and love you have for each piece.”

-Cindy P. on Kathleen’s ceramic Venus Silvae Sculptures
Venus Silvae “Nesting”

“Love, love, love your work. Absolutely beautiful.”

-Susan G. on Kathleen’s oil paintings
“To Fell the Ash” Oil on Canvas

Awards, Shows and Recognition

  • ArtBeat, 20th Annual Artisan Fair, Fine Arts Showcase featured artist, August 19, 2023
  • Hoosier Art Salon, “Art by Indiana Artists”, 98th Annual Exhibition, Juried Exhibition, August 26 – October 23, 2022, Venus Silvae, LX
  • Northern Indiana Artists, “Moving Forward” Exhibition, Honorable Mention for “The ABC of DOG”, March 27 – May 2, 2021
  • Buchanan Art Center, Exhibit: Illustrations from The ABC of DOG, Fall/Winter 2020
  • Purple Dragonfly Winner, 2020, Illustrations, Early Readers/Fiction, The ABC of DOG
  • Story Monster Approved Winner, 2020, Early Readers/Fiction, The ABC of DOG
  • Northern Indiana Artists, Fernwood Botanical Garden, Juried Exhibition, February, 2019
  • South Bend Museum of Art, 2019 ArtSlam Artist, Winner of the Gilded Paintbrush Award
  • Illinois Orchid Society, Spring Orchid and Art Show, Chicago Botanic Garden, First Place; Best in Class; Sculpture/Art, 2019
  • Michiana Orchid Show, First Place; Best in Class; Sculpture/Art, October 2018
  • South Bend Museum of Art, Student/Faculty Exhibit, Best in Show, Fall 2018
  • Fernwood Botanical Gardens, One-Woman Show, Spring 2018
  • Midwest Museum of American Art, 75th Anniversary Northern Indiana Artists, Juried Members Exhibition, Spring-Summer 2017
  • Illinois Orchid Society, Spring Orchid and Art Show, Chicago Botanic Garden, First Place; Sculpture/Art, 2017
  • Northern Indiana Artists, Juried Members Exhibition, South Bend Museum of Art, 2016
  • Illinois Orchid Society, Fall Orchid and Art Show, Chicago Botanic Garden, First Place: Sculpture/Art, 2016
  • Northern Indiana Artists, Juried Members Exhibition, University of Notre Dame Center for Arts and Culture, Judge’s Award, 2016
  • South Bend Art League Arts in Bloom Garden Walk, Featured Artist, 2016
  • Northern Indiana Artists, Buchanan Art Exhibit, Merit Award 2016
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