Katherine Bernhardt is known for pattern paintings that feature quotidian motifs—such as tacos, coffee makers, toilet paper, cigarettes, E.T., Garfield, Darth Vader, and the Pink Panther. What draws her to things is their color, such as the bright pink of the Pink Panther, the orange tone of Garfield, and the chemical blue of that Windex bottle. Her paintings usually measure up to 10 feet long and toe the line between expressionism and abstraction.
The compositional elements of Bernhardt’s paintings include palettes that allude to the tropical climes of Puerto Rico, references to the design and coloration of Moroccan rugs, and West African Dutch wax fabrics. The influences range from Henri Matisse and the Pattern and Decoration movement to Peter Doig and Chris Ofili.
Bernhardt paints on the floor like Jackson Pollock and other stain painters, so she can use lots of liquid so that the paint pools.