BIO

Short Version: International artist Cat Tesla is a contemporary nature-based abstract painter. Born in St. Louis, Missouri in 1963, Cat grew up with a love for both art and science and obtained degrees in Biology and Graphic Design, along with a Master’s Degree in Human Genetics. She worked as a genetic counselor on faculty at Emory University for 20 years, then eventually traded genetics clinic for art studio. Tesla completed additional painting studies with artist, writer, and author of “Expressive Drawing” Steven Aimone and also Sausalito-based artist and teacher Nicholas Wilton. Cat’s work has been exhibited in galleries across the U.S. and U.K., as well as the Knoxville Museum of Art, Museum of Contemporary Art in Atlanta, and the Marietta/Cobb Museum of Art north of Atlanta. After 26 years as a professional artist, Tesla’s paintings are in more than 300 corporate collections and nearly 1000 hospitals and medical centers in the U.S., and in thousands of private collections worldwide. Her nature-based abstract works were recently placed in the Emory Winship Cancer Institute, Capital One and the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab’s permanent collections. Tesla lives and works in the Sarasota, FL area.

Long Version: Cat Tesla, a native of St. Louis, Missouri, was born in 1963 with a passion for both art and science. She displayed remarkable talent in both fields and was awarded several accolades for her artwork during her high school years. She was even offered a scholarship for her first year of college if she chose to major in art, but also received academic scholarships. Despite the difficult decision of choosing her life's path, Cat ultimately decided to pursue a career in science. She earned a Bachelor's degree in Biology, a Master's degree in Human Genetics, and an Associate's degree in Graphic Design. Tesla became a faculty member of Emory University’s Department of Human Genetics in 1990, working as a genetic counselor at Emory University for nearly 20 years before trading genetics clinic for art studio. Aside from genetics clinic, Cat also served as Marketing Director for the Emory Genetics Laboratory, was the Director of 20+ Genetic Counselors, and also conducted seminal research in the area of public education in genetics.

In 1997, Cat began exhibiting her paintings while still juggling her responsibilities as a genetic counselor. Her passion for art led her to leave Emory University to pursue her art career full-time. However, her plans were put on hold when her husband was diagnosed with colorectal cancer in 2002. After he recovered, Cat's creative spirit continued to inspire the Department of Human Genetics at Emory University, which accommodated her art schedule so she could continue working in both fields. Cat left Emory University for the second time in 2006 but wrote a successful research grant that same year, which was funded. She agreed to complete the research project by working one day a week through 2009, and her findings were published in Genetics in Medicine, with one of her paintings appearing on the cover.

Early in Tesla’s genetics career she began her practice of yoga, hiking, and mindful meditation. “My brain found peace and calm in nature, while mindful meditation allowed me to traverse more easily between the worlds of art and science”, said Cat. Scientists hypothesize that being in nature allows the prefrontal cortex, the brain’s command center, to dial down and rest, like an overused muscle. In fact, after just a 3 day camping trip, you can increase your problem solving by 50 percent.

It was inevitable that Mother Nature would become Tesla’s muse. Her “Exhale Series” is nature-based abstraction, while her “Feeling Good Series” is purely non-objective. Both series derive their color and shapes from nature. In addition to her degree in graphic design, Cat has also pursued her artistic talents through multiple art residencies with Steven Aimone, and two international art residencies in France. In 2019, she began teaching workshops on abstract painting in Santa Fe with fellow artist Julie Schumer and online in 2020, as well as teaching artists how to start and grow an art business.

In 2022, as the Tesla's prepared to make their move to Florida, Cat was presented with the news of an early stage breast cancer diagnosis. Returning to Atlanta, she received surgical treatment at Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute, where she was fortunate enough to require no further treatment. A year following her diagnosis, she was approached to create four paintings for the newly constructed building of Emory’s Winship Cancer Institute located in midtown Atlanta, completing a full circle journey from patient to artist.

Cat’s husband Simo is a classically-trained accordionist who has played in the Atlanta Balalaika Orchestra, a Swedish ensemble and a Balkan music ensemble. He is also an avid photographer and paints small surrealistic works in his spare time. Together the Tesla’s travel extensively around the country to meet with collectors at art shows. Cat and Simo now live just south of Sarasota in sunny Florida.