Kathleen Gallo began her art education as an apprentice at the age of eight. After a decade of studying under Chicago professional artist Donna Sands, Kathleen moved from Chicago to Philadelphia to further develop her skill set and continue her studies. She audited physical anthropology classes at the University of Pennsylvania and attended the PAFA Hahnemann Program for cadaver dissections. These experiences deepened her knowledge of human anatomy and appreciation for the field of anthropology. In May 2020, she earned her BFA from the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts.

Kathleen completed her first post-mortem facial-reconstruction at The New York Academy of Art in January of 2018. This reconstruction would later lead to an identification of the remains with the instruction of her mentor, forensic artist Joe Mullins. Gallo has created reconstructions for the Pima County Police, Penn Museum, Mutter Museum, and the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP). Images of her post-mortem facial reconstructions have been published in Expedition magazine and The New York Times.

She interned at the Penn Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology under Dr. Janet Monge. In her internship & freelance work she created flesh-reconstructions from skulls in their archives and made visual art based on their private collection. The Penn Museum purchased her reconstruction of a Neandertal from approximately 45,000-65,000 years ago. This technically crafted reconstruction is now on permanent display in the main entrance gallery of the Penn Museum.

After returning to Chicago Kathleen had her first solo exhibition, Brushes With Death: Examining the Human Condition, at the International Museum of Surgical Science, North America's only museum devoted to surgery, in 2021. Kathleen drew 2D reconstructions on skulls in their collection.

Kathleen brings an intimate collection of oil paintings & grapite drawings featuring faces and figures to the Blue Moon Gallery. Her exciting work will be on view through April 10.

IMAGE: Color Study by Kathleen Gallo 6 X 4.5 Oil Paint on Plywood