Kathy Ager, a freelance artist who has made a name for herself in the art world, is a proud alum of Southridge. Known for her distinctive oil paintings that blend classical imagery with modern influences, Kathy has collaborated with renowned brands like Aritzia, Nike, the NBA, Polo Ralph Lauren, NOCTA, Bold Golf, and Real Skateboards. Her bold artistic vision and dedication have positioned her as a sought-after creative force, with recent projects furthering her reputation on the international stage.
A member of Southridge’s very first graduating class in 1999, Kathy discovered and honed her artistic talents within the walls of Southridge. “I remember my friend Sally and I were just obsessed with art. We would put in a ton of extra time and joined extracurricular clubs, like ceramics,” she reflects.
During her time at Southridge, Kathy also had a keen interest in math and science. After graduating, she was determined to create a stable career path for herself and decided to go into pre-veterinary sciences at University of Victoria.
“Going to university was such a huge change in my life,” says Kathy. “I was a competitive horseback rider, and a week before starting college, I sold my horse, suddenly I wasn’t doing art, and I wasn’t riding but I was in this whole new world with new people. I didn’t think about my passions for a couple of years during that time, I was just having fun, and going with the flow.”
After obtaining her bachelor’s degree from UVic, Kathy’s passion for art became impossible to ignore, prompting her to take a leap of faith and pursue a creative career. “After a couple years at UVic I really thought about it, “Who am I? What do I want to do?”, and I decided I don’t want to be a scientist forever,” she recalls. Determined to explore a future in art, she enrolled in the IDEA program at Capilano University.
Although Kathy initially pursued a career in graphic design after graduating from Capilano University, her true artistic calling emerged years later. “It wasn’t until about 7 years after I graduated that I picked up oil painting again,” she reflects. Primarily self-taught in the medium, Kathy only remembers making 2 or 3 oil paintings in school. “I just hustled, worked full time in graphic design, came home, painted on my evenings and weekends for myself, and it turned into something.” That persistence, coupled with her undeniable talent, helped Kathy transition from a career in graphic design to becoming a full-time artist.
Her big break came unexpectedly while sitting at a bus stop in Lisbon, Portugal. After submitting her artwork to various art and design blogs, one re-posted her work on their Instagram page. Kathy recalls looking down at her phone, which was suddenly filled with thousands of notifications of likes, new followers, and one very exciting message from a big gallery in LA, Thinkspace. After being picked up by Thinkspace, Kathy has been commissioned by a variety of well-known companies and organizations. “My most memorable projects so far are the Real Skateboard board graphics and the Aritzia bags. Both brands were so fun to work with and the response to the boards and the bags was so positive and encouraging. So often I work away on things without much fanfare, so it’s great when a brand really puts the artist in the spotlight and makes something really fun out of what I’ve created with them,” says Kathy.
Kathy's original oil paintings were featured on Aritzia’s 2024/25 Holiday packaging. The brand proudly highlighted the collaboration on their social media, stating, “This year, oil painter Kathy Ager created original artwork for our holiday bags, boxes and envelopes. Pretty enough to frame.”
Kathy’s successes have not come without challenges though. The biggest challenge is staying self-motivated. “There is no one telling me what to do daily, or motivating me. I have to get up, and go, and make it happen,” says Kathy. “The work ethic I had, and continue to have leaving Southridge has helped me so much. You get so much of that from the culture of the school.”
As a Southridge alumna, Kathy exemplifies the school’s commitment to fostering creativity. She occasionally returns to campus to share her artistic knowledge with students, including helping in Ms. Higgins’ senior art classes and speaking at Career Day. “Coming into Southridge is so fun,” says Kathy. “It’s been really cool to be able to share and help out with the kids.” Her visit to Career Day was met with audible gasps of excitement as she spoke about her career milestones, particularly her collaborations with Aritzia and the NBA. “It was fun to show the students the projects I’ve worked on. The Aritzia bags were quite a hit, which makes sense because my teenage self would have squealed if she’d known this project would happen,” she laughs.
Kathy's connections within the Southridge community continue to grow, highlighted by a recent commissioned piece for fellow alumnus Brian Kim (Class of 2004). “It was so fun getting commissioned by Brian. We met at an alumni board meeting and got in touch about his love of art and a curiosity of working together,” says Kathy. The piece, titled “Give”, features yellow
Nikes, budgies, florals, and more. Now proudly displayed in Brian’s dental office, it reflects the strength of the alumni network and the unwavering support fostered by the Southridge Alumni Association.
Her artistic journey within the community doesn’t stop there. At Career Day, Rick Mann (Class of 2004) and a current Southridge parent, commended Kathy on her work, sharing how incredible it would be to see her collaborate with the school on a special project. This conversation sparked an exciting idea—creating a one-of-a-kind silent auction piece for the 2025 Southridge Golf Classic. “There’s something really special about the connections we all have through Southridge,” says Kathy.
While working on an upcoming graphic design project for Saje Natural Wellness and artwork for Nitro Snowboards, Kathy is also giving back to the community by hosting paint parties for families at the Ronald McDonald House. “I host one every month for the teens and parents staying there. We usually choose a fun music playlist and paint much sillier subjects than I usually paint in my studio,” shares Kathy.
Through her creativity, generosity, and dedication to giving back, she continues to inspire those around her. Kathy’s journey in the art world is a fantastic reminder to follow your passions. “I’m proud of where I’m at now, having done this all on my own,” she says. As a Southridge alumna, she serves as a role model to young artists, proving that with dedication, anything is possible.
Contributed by Marissa May, Advancement and Community Relations
Originally published in Spirit Magazine - Spring 2025