Kathleen has been exhibiting her work in Philadelphia, New York and Maine since the early 1980s. She was granted a one month residency at the artist’s colony, YADDO in Saratoga Springs, NY and later a two week residency in Acadia National Park, in Maine. Recently, her work was featured in Maine Home + Design July 2012 issue in The Canvas section by Britta Konau. In June 2010, one of her pastels was selected for inclusion in the Paris based magazine Pratique des Artes, Hors-Serie Pastel; Tour Du Monde Pastel. Two of her pastel paintings are published in Carl Little's The Art of Maine in Winter and an article about her work was written and published in the February 2008 issue of The Pastel Journal. Her work is carried by Greenhut Galleries in Portland, Maine, Gleason Fine Art in Boothbay Harbor, Maine, and Littlefield Gallery, Winter Harbor, Maine. Kathleen has work in the collection of the Farnsworth Art Museum, and in many corporate and private collections worldwide.
Illustration was her focus of study at Philadelphia College of Art, and although she preferred to take the route of painting as a career, Kathleen has from time to time indulged in illustration projects, including a number for archaeology. The most recent publication was the cover painting and design for her husband, Dr. Warren Riess' book Angel Gabriel: The Elusive English Galleon.
About ten years ago, Kathleen began experiencing health problems from working in pastels and oils. Looking for a solution, but unable to find one available, she and her husband developed and now produce Artist's Air, an air filtering system that collects air and impurities at the artist's easel, filters it, and returns clean air to the studio. This invention solved those problems and she no longer experiences any discomfort from working with pastels or oils.