Kathleen Fitzgerald

Kathleen Fitzgerald grew up on Long Island, New York. She was the eldest of four children. Her father graduated from Pratt Institute intending to have a career in fine art painting. In time, he came to the realization that he could not provide for his family as an artist and accepted a job as an engineer at Grumman Aviation. Although he did not make a career out of art, their home was filled paintings, etchings and the creative spirit.

Fitzgerald graduated from the Pittsburg School of Interior Design. She credits that training for honing her eye for the simplicity and mystery of black and white photography. As a young wife, and mother of two children, she found herself in the darkroom more than the kitchen. She spent many months discovering the effects of different kinds of film, camera settings and the chemical process.

She moved to Japan when her husband took a job transfer. She traveled all over Asia photographing the beauty of the terrain, but more than that, she loved capturing the faces of people she met. Upon returning to the United States, she lived in Connecticut and began studying in New York at the School of Visual Arts and the International Center for Photography. After graduating from the portraiture program at SVA, one of her professors advised her to start combining her photography skills with writing. Along with starting her own photography business, she documented the work of many charities in New England for the Near and Far Aid Association. She spent two years going to domestic violence centers, homes for the specially challenged, homeless shelters, and after school programs. Her photographs provided an artistic and sympathetic reference to bring light to urgent causes.

Kathleen’s first book was, Divas, Dames & Dolls: A Celebration of the Female Spirit. It’s inspirational tone and poignant photographs, showed that women of a certain age were ageless in spirit and determination. She travelled around the country doing lectures and appearing on TV and radio talking about the women featured in the book. Her second book, Soaring Spirits, the Female Quest for Vitality and Victory, was commissioned by the pharmaceutical company, GlaxoSmithKline. It was a testimonial of the strength and fortitude of women who had participated in the National Senior Olympic Games. With a forward by Olympic skater, Peggy Fleming, it provided inspirational motivation for women of all ages to keep active and fit. Fitzgerald’s third book, due for release in February 2019, is Solo: A Celebration of Women Living on Their Own. It’s about women who have never married, or those who are divorced or widowed. These women tell their stories about being on their own with honesty, wit, and grace. Please go to KathFitz.com for more information.