Kate Fedos

Renowned artist and conservator Kate Fedos (born Ekaterina Fedoseeva) masterfully straddles the worlds of historical preservation and contemporary storytelling. A Moscow native, Fedos cultivated an early passion for art, later honing her expertise in Conservation and Restoration—a discipline that instilled a profound respect for heritage. Today, she resides in North Macedonia with her husband, three young children, and a lively household punctuated by a dog and cat, whose whimsy often seeps into her illustrations.

Fedos’ career pivoted unexpectedly during nights spent reading to her children. While restoring religious icons and aged canvases by day, she felt a growing urge to create anew. “There’s a quiet magic in preservation,” she reflects, “but children’s books reawakened my own voice—a chance to paint worlds instead of repairing them.” This epiphany birthed a second act: illustrating picture books that channel the same meticulous care she applies to centuries-old artworks.

Her technique is a harmonious dialogue between tradition and innovation. Employing watercolor, gouache, soft pastels, and colored pencils, Fedos crafts ethereal, tactile scenes imbued with nostalgia. These analog foundations are then delicately refined digitally, allowing nuanced adjustments without sacrificing the handmade charm central to her aesthetic. The result is artwork that feels both timeless and contemporary—a bridge between her dual callings.

Family life remains her muse. The chaos and wonder of raising three children permeate her illustrations, infusing them with warmth and spontaneity. Yet her Russian roots and Balkan surroundings subtly inform her palette and motifs, creating a visual language that transcends borders.

For Fedos, art is an act of legacy—whether resurrecting faded masterpieces or conjuring new narratives. As she balances conservation projects with burgeoning illustration commissions, her work underscores a universal truth: creation and preservation are not opposites, but partners in cultural continuity. In an era of rapid digitization, Kate Fedos stands as a testament to the enduring power of the human hand—and the stories it tells.