Cathy Lancaster Is a Force

Cathy Lancaster is a force of color and design and personality who has swept into Chicago to offer her delightful, upbeat outlook on life through her many design talents.

Originally from Mississippi, Cathy and her husband lived several years in New Orleans, as they raised their three children, then moved to Memphis where Cathy established herself with her artist mother in their own studio.

Although her mother is a landscape and flower artist, she encouraged Cathy to explore “the abstract designs in her head,” as she describes them.  An avid doodler, Cathy began painting primary color squares on her canvasses, which sold quickly.

As she continued to explore other mediums, such as collage work, Cathy was seeing her designs grow in complexity and color.

And as her canvas designs blossomed, so did her other offerings – folding tables (!), fabrics, tea towels, notebook covers, face masks, wallcoverings and art on paper.  As she explains it, “solo galleries are big in the south, where artists feature and market their own work in their own spaces.”

It’s a concept that Chicago hasn’t see much of, and the Lancaster colors are a southern delight that we need to see more of with our nine months of winter.

Lancaster Gallery is very active on social media, where Cathy hopes to launch much of her product line and attract a buyer who will help her go national.  But at this point she’s in the process of editing her designs to cull the very best.  Her goal is to offer 30 or so wallpaper designs (she now has 20,000).  She’s also trying to whittle down her textile designs, “but I keep making new ones!”

With their three children grown and living in Nashville, Cathy and her husband decided they wanted to experience urban living with more diversity.  Her bright artwork is a wonderful offering for Chicago collectors and interior designers.

I have heard people exclaim that the Lancaster touch is like “Lilly Pulitzer on canvas,” and certainly a vibe that fits with the popular Reese Witherspoon southern lifestyle brand.  But Cathy can’t be captured with fast comparisons.  Her understanding of color and composition is masterful and uniquely hers.

My sister, who is an art consultant and I, recently attended a “soiree” at the Lancaster Gallery on Addison Street, where we enjoyed cocktails, live jazz, and animated conversation — from a distance.  The event was a fund raiser for the Lakeview Pantry.  Cathy is not only a recognized artist, but she cares very much about making contributions to her local community, also.

She is constantly planning — backyard charity events, studio time for neighborhood children…Follow cathylancastergallery on Instagram and you won’t miss a thing.

Come on, Chicago, it’s time to give yourself a Lancaster lift!