Blue Heartstrings
Archway Gallery is pleased to present Blue Heartstrings, an exhibit featuring new paintings by Katherine Rodgers—on view September 5 through October 1, 2026. This exhibit features watercolor works of mammals, birds, and fish, painted mostly in blue. Rodgers is donating a portion of the proceeds to the nonprofit organization, HeartGift, which brings children from around the world to the United States where they are provided life-saving surgery to correct congenital heart defects. Attend the opening reception Saturday, September 12, 5 to 8 p.m., when guests can meet the artist and enjoy the artist’s talk starting at 6:30 p.m.
Rodgers is dedicating her show to her sister, Laura, who was born in 1972 with a condition called tetralogy of fallot. One of the first babies to be operated on by Dr. Denton Cooley in Houston, sadly she passed away after the surgery at the age of almost three. But her short life left an impact on her family. Trying to understand her death led Rodgers to study medicine and become a nurse. Babies with heart defects are often referred to “blue babies” due to poor blood perfusion that happens when the heart does not pump properly. “Therefore,” explains Rodgers, “in Laura’s memory, I am painting a gallery-worth of animals mostly in blue and calling the show Blue Heartstrings.“
Predominantly a self-taught painter, Rodgers’ work is deeply inspired by nature and the world around her. Since returning to Houston in 2022, she has devoted herself to teaching watercolor to students of all levels at the Watercolor Art Society of Houston. Visit archwaygallery.com to learn more about the artist and her upcoming show.
