Katy Nave Kemalyan is an artist and art educator currently pursuing an MFA in Historic Preservation at Mississippi State University. Originally from Kingsville, TX Katy received her BFA in Painting and Art History degree from Southwestern University in 2015.

Painting and viewing murals are Katy’s favorite way to communicate or learn about a place. Keeping a travel sketchbook is important to her, she often takes small commissions of architecture and landscapes in watercolor, and has previously designed illustration-based stationery. After college, Katy enjoyed opportunities to travel with AmeriCorps NCCC, Penland School of Crafts, Arrowmont School of Crafts, and College Year in Athens. As a military spouse, Katy spent five years in California’s Central Valley and is currently based out of Meridian, MS.

Tankhouse Studios got its name from the quirky vernacular structures attached to many California Central Valley farmhouses- a favorite thing to spot on roadtrips.