Archway Gallery Presents Blue Heartstrings
Archway Gallery is pleased to present Blue Heartstrings,
an exhibit featuring new paintings by Katherine Rodgers—on view September 5 through October 1, 2026. This exhibit features watercolor works of a large variety of mammals, birds, and fish, painted mostly in blue. Rodgers is donating a portion of the proceeds—along with prints—to the nonprofit organization, HeartGift, which brings children from around the world to the United States where they are provided life-saving surgery to correct congenital heart defects. Attend the opening reception Saturday, September 12, 5 to 8 p.m., when guests can meet the artist and enjoy the artist’s talk starting at 6:30 p.m.
Archway Gallery artist Rodgers is dedicating her show to her sister, Laura, who was born in 1972 with a condition called tetralogy of fallot. One of the first babies to be operated on by Dr. Denton Cooley in Houston, sadly she passed away after the surgery at the age of almost three. But her short life left an impact on her family. Trying to understand her death led Rodgers to study medicine and become a nurse. “Today in the United States, Laura’s life would most likely be saved,” explains Rodgers. “But this is not the case for all children in the world born with a heart defect.” Globally, 1 in 100 children born each year have a congenital heart defect. More than 90% of these children are born in areas where specialized medical treatment is either scarce or nonexistent. “HeartGift fills this gap,” says Rodgers. “Because where a child lives should not determine whether they live or not.”
Babies with heart defects are often referred to “blue babies” due to poor blood perfusion that happens when the heart does not pump properly. “Therefore,” explains Rodgers, “in Laura’s memory, I am painting a gallery-worth of animals mostly in blue and calling the show Blue Heartstrings.“
Anyone who cannot attend or who would like to give ahead of the show, please donate today at a special donation page Rodgers created, by clicking here: https://www.justgiving.com/page/krfineart.
Katherine Rodgers works mainly in watercolor on clayboard. She prefers to use clayboard rather than paper to ensure her paintings’ longevity. By finishing each work with a UV varnish, she further ensures it will stand the test of time.
The youngest of four children, Rodgers was born and raised in West Chester, Pennsylvania. At age 13, when she moved with her family to Houston, she attended the Glassell School of Art, where she learned to paint. She studied nursing at the University of Texas at Austin and retains her RN license to this day. She married a US Army soldier, and they are the parents of three children. As a military family, they moved often, living in a dozen locations all over the world. In each new environment, Rodgers found inspiration for her paintings. However, it wasn’t until the family settled in Washington, DC, in 2016 that she began pursuing art more seriously, exhibiting in several local galleries and wineries.
Predominantly a self-taught painter, Rodgers’ work is deeply inspired by nature and the world around her. Since returning to Houston in 2022, she has devoted herself to teaching watercolor to students of all levels at the Watercolor Art Society of Houston.
ABOUT ARCHWAY GALLERY:
Artist owned and operated since 1976. Archway Gallery one of Houston’s and the nation’s oldest artist-owned and operated galleries. The gallery is located at 2305 Dunlavy and is open Tuesday – Saturday from 10 a.m. – 6 p.m. and Sunday from 1 – 5 p.m. Since 1976, Archway Gallery has been exhibiting the work of the area’s finest artists, providing a great selection of affordable, high-quality art, including sculpture, pottery, and painting in a variety of media and styles. One of the more than 30 member artists is always on-site, providing visitors with a unique experience to meet the artists who created the work offering a personal insight into the process. Each month features a special exhibition highlighting one or more member artists that is open to the public. Archway Gallery is THE destination in the Houston area for affordable art directly from the artist. For more information, visit ArchwayGallery.com or call 713.522.2409. Like Archway Gallery on Facebook.
