Katy McCarthy

Katy McCarthy is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Art & Art History within the College of Liberal and Fine Arts at the University of Texas at San Antonio, where she teaches as an artist and educator based in Austin, Texas.

Her academic credentials include:

• BFA from UC Santa Barbara
• MFA from the Interdisciplinary Studio Arts program at Hunter College, New York

McCarthy's creative research centers on surrealist explorations of psychological and feminist themes through film and visual art. Her work critically engages with contemporary socio-political discourse, particularly evident in her 2021 pro-abortion film "The Violinist" which adapts philosophical thought experiments into cinematic narratives. She employs experimental techniques to examine identity, power structures, and gender politics within her artistic practice.

Her major recognitions include:

• St. Elmo Fellowship at UT Austin (2018) as inaugural sole recipient
• Austin Film Society short film grant (2021) for "The Violinist"

McCarthy maintains active creative development through prestigious artist residencies including Lighthouse Works, LMCC Governors Island, SOHO20 Residency Lab, Grin City, and The Wassaic Project, which have directly supported her film production and exhibition work. Her grant acquisitions demonstrate consistent funding success for politically engaged artistic projects.