Cat Rigdon
Dallas, Texas
A Dallas, Texas based artist researching ancient Cypriot grave goods. Represented by Goetze Art & Design in Memphis, Tennessee.
Message
Cat Rigdon is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Dallas, Texas. She grew up on the island of Cyprus during the late 1990s and early 2000s. Rigdon and her siblings sneak into ancient archeological sites such as Tomb of the Kings in Paphos and rummage through abandoned monasteries and hotels, sometimes under their parent’s supervision. These strong memories along with the island’s strong folk art, naturalism, and archeological relevance is reflected in Rigdon’s work through her depictions of ancient funerary goods.
Rigdon graduated from Texas State University in 2014 with a Bachelor degree in Studio Art-Painting. After graduation, she moved to Dallas as a Decorative Arts Junior Specialist and Cataloger for Heritage Auctions. During her tenure with the auction house, Rigdon honed in her understanding of object and material culture. The position allowed Rigdon to handle thousands of objects, pieces of furniture, and a few ancient artifacts.
Rigdon currently works at The Cedars Union as the Manager of Development, focusing on connecting the community with emerging artists in North Texas. She is a member of the female co-op TRADE Oak Cliff where she maintains her studio practice and occasionally runs community sewing projects. Rigdon is represented by Goetze Art & Design in Memphis, Tennessee. Rigdon has received the DeGolyer Award from the Dallas Museum of Art, the Award of Excellence from the Laughlin-Beers Foundation, and was the Fair Director’s Pick for the 2021 edition of The Other Art Fair - Dallas. She has shown work with Galleri Urbane and Cluley Projects in Dallas, MASS Gallery in Austin, and has participated in New York Jewelry Week at Jewerly Arts Inc.
Awards
Fair Director's Pick, The Other Art Fair - Dallas.
The Clare Hart DeGolyer Memorial Fund Award, Dallas Museum of Art.
Award of Excellence, The Laughlin-Beers Foundation, Austin, Texas.
Paper City Design Award, Art Direction for Residential Interior Design, Dallas, Texas.
Statement
Rigdon’s inner-dialogue runs through ancient Cypriot-inspired vessels and replicas of looted Cypriot artifacts found in major institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum and The British Museum. Within these pieces Rigdon investigates the pseudo archeologist and first director of the MET, Luigi Palma di Cesnola, and how his exploitation of her home island parallels how Rigdon believes her father behaved while they inhabited the island in the early aughts.