Zachary Kator grew up in historic Williamsburg, Virginia. From an early age he was captivated by the beauty of the world, inspiring him to draw, paint and create. Zachary attended the University of Mary Washington for his undergraduate degree. During this time, he travelled to Europe, visiting many of its great museums. The exposure to the work of the Old Masters encouraged him to seek out classical training. After graduation, Zachary was accepted for post-graduate study at Charles Cecil Studios, a portraiture atelier, located in Florence, Italy. Zachary spent three years studying classical portraiture under the tutelage of Charles Cecil and other international masters. While abroad, Zachary backpacked across Europe, honed his skills in portraiture and painted the countryside. Upon his return to his home state of Virginia, he focused exclusively on painting full time.

In 2012, Zachary moved to New York City to pursue more opportunities in the art
field. He continued to hone his craft in portraiture, studying at the Art Students League. Over the years, he has extended his portfolio into other genres, branching out into painting landscapes and the urban environment.

Zachary currently specializes in oil painting, including landscapes, cityscapes, private commissions and printmaking. His work has been featured in numerous galleries, private collections, and in competitions in venues such as the Salmagundi Club in New York. He frequently participates in plein air events along the Eastern seaboard.

Zachary prefers to work en plein air as it combines his love for nature and travel. He believes that working directly from life creates the most expressive and dynamic paintings.

When he isn’t attending events Zachary divides his time between rural life in his native Virginia and New York City. Zachary gains inspiration from life in a bustling and chaotic city and then retreats to the peacefulness of the countryside. Outside of painting, Zachary enjoys cycling, food, travel and the outdoors.

Awards and Honors:

• Sixth Place, “Corner, Emory St” Paint It! Ellicott City, Ellicott City Maryland, June 2023

• Featured Artist & Judge, “Local Exotic” Art Alliance of Monmouth County, Red Bank New Jersey, March 2023.

• Artist’s Choice Award, Tidelands Plein Air, Tappahannock Virginia, October 2022

• Third Place, Professional Category. Paint Staunton Quick Draw Art Competition.
City, Staunton, Virginia. Juried by Rosalie Day White, 2019.

• Bryant Park Painter in Residence, New York, New York. Sponsored by Bryant Park Corporation, 2016.

• Honorable Mention, ”Donna” Oil on Canvas, March 2013 Fredericksburg Center for the Creative Arts.

Commissions:

• Murals, Slyde@23 Event Space, Staunton Virginia. Sponsored by Four-Forty-Four LLC, 2023.

Newspaper Coverage:

• “Ellicott City looks good from any angle at ‘Paint it!’ show,” The Baltimore Sun, by Mike Giulano, June 19, 2019.