Cat Palmer

Cat Palmer (born in Orange County, California) is an American queer photographer and artist best known for images of women. She began shooting underground musicians at age 15, on the streets of Los Angeles. She is known for her images of iconic cult punks, Spoon and Squid from the Decline of Western Civilization series. At the age of 21 (2001), she moved to Utah. She currently has a monthly column with City Weekly: "Small Lake City".

Career
Cat began working full-time photography and art in 2009. She has been shooting since age 15 (1995) and professionally since age 24 (2004). In 2022, she retired from shooting weddings but still focuses on headshots and portraits of people. She photographed SLC Mayor Jackie Biskupski's wedding to her wife, Betty. She has shot for with Carrie Fisher, Penelope Spheeris, Adeem The Artist, Amy Redford, and Barry Morrow.

Black-and-white, muted color, & street art photography features strongly in her work, sometimes printed onto metal or wood with Xerox transfer words and spray paint mixed media. Her earlier work is known for heavy use of gas masks from around the world and has been a champion of clean air in Utah. She is a long time member of the SLC Air Protectors.

She has done three rounds of "Keep The Politicians Out of Our Vaginas". "You Don't Own Me" (2012), I Stand With Planned Parenthood (2016), You Can't Grab This (2020)

Cat gathered the 12 bad asses of Salt Lake City to recreate the Last Supper with Deena Marie at Ichiban (2015). Paul Duane, Mary Nickles, Richard Dutcher, Paula J Dahlberg, Pat Bagley, Sister Dottie, her El Salvadorian gay bestie Greggy, Ransom Wyder, Doug Fabrizio, Deena Marie, Jim Debakis, Bill Allred, & Jay Whittaker In 2017, her image of "Go Home Trump" went viral. She organized over 100 people dressed in white on the lawn of the Utah State Capitol and released it when Trump was landing in Utah. The AP picked it up and it went internationally viral by the time Trump's pane was landing in Utah.

Recognition
In 2008 the Salt Lake City Weekly called Palmer's work "striking", and wrote that she was "one of the rising stars of the local art scene's work". They also noted that she is "active in the community, teaching classes and serving on the board of the Women's Art Center." The newspaper named her "Best Visual Artist" in 2017, 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2023. In 2016, City Weekly gave her an award for "Best Feminist". In 2016, QSaltLake Magazine recognized her with a Fabby for Best Photographer & Best Visual Artist and again in 2017. In 2007, 2008, & 2011, City Weekly kindly gave her an Arty's award for "Best Photographer". In 2009, the jury at the Utah Arts Festival granted her "Best in Show" welcoming her back the following year.

Exhibits
Cat has exhibited many places since 2011 including the 300 plates show for Art Access, The Urban Arts Gallery, Sugar House Art Stroll, Springville Museum and a variety of other places. She currently has a large studio at The Bogue Foundry. Selected exhibits include:


 * 2013 The Urban Arts Gallery, 'I Have A Secret', Salt Lake City
 * 2010 The Hive Gallery, ‘Age of Aesthetics’ Solo Exhibit, November, Salt Lake City
 * 2009 Art Access, ‘Spousal Collaboration’, June, Salt Lake City
 * 2008 Iao Gallery, Heavy Metal, October, Salt Lake City
 * 2008 Mestizo Gallery •Utah Artists Against Domestic Violence, September, Salt Lake City
 * 2008, Summertime Soiree, July, Salt Lake City
 * 2008 Utah Arts Festival, June, Salt Lake City
 * 2007 Utah Arts Festival, June, Invited Artist
 * 2006 Poor Yorick, Invited Artist, Salt Lake City