About Kathy Rooney

Vintage with unique, modern appeal best describes Kathy's illustration style. She is a notable figure in her field, often recognized for her contributions. Kathy serves as Exhibition Chair in the Pittsburgh Society Illustrators “My America: An Illustrated Experience” exhibit at the Senator John Heinz History Center which runs from October, 2025 through September, 2026. She also serves at New Member Chair for the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators.

Kathy creates engaging digital artwork focusing on historic drawings often incorporating Pittsburgh history, portraiture, and landscapes.

Kathy was commissioned by the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2001 to create a 62 ft. x 13 ft. mural depicting a panorama of Pittsburgh for the South Side Practice Facility featuring past & present noted sports venues.. Prints of the mural are still a favorite among Steeler fans and can be found in the shop of her web site. Since creating the Mural, she has illustrated maps for Duquesne University, Point Park University, and Empire City Casino/Yonkers Raceway, NY.

Kathy also created 11 custom illustrations for a feature science documentary film, "UNDAUNTED, The Forgotten Giants of the Allegheny Observatory"​, starring Neil deGrasse Tyson and produced & directed by Dan Handley in association with the Heinz History Center in Pittsburgh and PBS.

Kathy co-founded Rooney & Ray Arts, Inc. in 2003, an artistic venture with her artist husband, Ray Sokolowski, providing artistic solutions for corporations and individual clients.

Kathy has been a member of the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators since 2000. Alongside her illustration work, Kathy has a diverse background in graphic design and project management. She is a dedicated full-time artist and took her passion to the next level by co-founding Rooney and Ray Arts, Inc. in 2000 with her artist husband, Ray Sokolowski. Together, they provide artistic solutions for corporations, specializing in inspirational and captivating visual branding. Their merger of talent has provided a myriad of artworks and effective communication solutions. You can visit Ray Sokolowski’s web site at: raysokolowski.com

A Reflection…

I grew up in Pittsburgh, a little city girl, and this environment along with my mother’s influence is what shaped me into becoming an artist. Consequently, the Catholic schools I attended for 12 years did not provide art classes.

By the age of 9, I knew that I was destined to draw and this was wholeheartedly supported by my mother who had always nurtured my talent from a very young age. It was at this time, I feel I emerged because as it happened we had large, smooth slate slabs for sidewalks on our street. One such slab was right in front of my house. The inviting slab inspired me to use it as a canvas so I found my own colored chalk via natural stones I collected in the neighborhood and while sitting on the bottom step of my porch, I drew my first large landscape which took hours to complete. When my mother came out and saw my work she was so amazed that she immediately signed me up for art classes. More than the art classes, however, through this validation of my talent, she gave me a sign that I was to become a true artist. What followed was my mom taking me, on 2 streetcars, to visit a local college art department where we snuck into a large oil painting classroom - the paintings on multiple easels and the smell of oil paints was wonderfully intoxicating to me. It was my first experience in such a creative environment and I was totally smitten by it. I felt I belonged there. And then my mom started taking me to the Pittsburgh Three Rivers Art Festival every year, just she & I. She knew then what my destiny was!

Recent and Upcoming Projects

Currently, I am thrilled to be illustrating a meditation card deck to visually inspire  meditation for beginners. The artwork is inspired by the teachings of Deepak Chopra and incorporates the 4 elements of earth, air, fire & water.   

I am also excited to be the Exhibition Chair for “My America: An Illustrated Experience”, a new Senator John Heinz History Center Exhibit in partnership with the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators. Featuring 63 original works of art by 35 illustrators, My America: An Illustrated Experience uses the power of illustration to reflect on ideals associated with the American Revolution and the ideals at the heart of the nation’s founding — freedom, equality, justice, and liberty. The exhibition runs from October, 2025 through September, 2026.