Chicago-based artist Kim Knoll makes abstract paintings that are informed by memories and moments from her time spent in nature exploring lakes, mountains, forests, and coastlines through hiking and camping. Working with watercolor paint, ink, acrylic, graphite, and pastels, Kim paints from memory, thinking of specific moments or sights to guide each concept and inform the shapes, gestures, color, and composition. Inspired by landscapes and influenced by minimalism, she seeks to bring the outdoors in, in a beautiful, simple, and unexpected way.
Kim's style is heavily influenced by her background in graphic design, which has been her focus throughout her schooling and career. It wasn't until 2016 when she picked up a paintbrush for the first time, but only to experiment with watercolors for a client project. She fell in love with the medium and began exploring it as a personal project. Soon after sharing her paintings on Instagram, her work sold out and continued to do so. After seeing a demand for her art, she learned how to make prints and began selling both originals and prints to interior designers and art consultants. Now Kim works with over 20 art consulting firms and interior design studios to produce commissioned paintings and prints for hotels, resorts, retail stores, cruise lines, and more. Her most notable work can be found in The Ritz-Carlton Yacht Collection, Four Seasons Hotels, The Bellagio Hotel Las Vegas, Hyatt Regency Hotels, 7 For All Mankind (Milan and Berlin), Celebrity Edge and Norwegian Sky cruise ships, and The Spells Deck produced by Chronicle Books.