Katie Thompson is an artist, writer, creative consultant and instructor based outside of Charleston, SC. She is a disabled mother of two, and wife and partner to fine furniture maker Joseph Thompson. They live and work out of their home and shop in the swamps of the Lowcountry.
Katie’s work as Design Partner with Joseph Thompson Woodworks has been featured in publications such as Furniture & Cabinetmaking magazine, Charleston Magazine, and has been exhibited at the American Craft Council, Dwelling, The Target Gallery at the Torpedo Factory Arts Center, the One of a Kind Show, the South Carolina State Museum and others. She is also an instructor at the Charleston Woodworking School.
In 2013 Katie started Black Swamp as a line of naturally inspired handcrafted jewelry made using recycled wood offcuts from the furniture making process. The line has since grown to include original art, home decor, and accessories. Katie’s most recent collection is the Cistern Oak collection for the College of Charleston Alumni Association, with proceeds going towards alumni programs and student scholarships.
Katie has a passion for people and sharing their stories, and pursues her inclinations as a storyteller through her writing. Her ongoing project the Women of Woodworking series features some of the craft’s most talented artisans from around the globe. Her children’s book Little Beaver Builds a Bed was published in 2016. She is currently working on a second children’s book project that is scheduled to be released in the fall of 2019. She has also contributed to publications such as Dwell.com, Charleston City Paper, and others.
Katie is proudly disabled and lives with multiple neurological conditions. She suffered a spinal cord injury at the age of 18 and experienced complications with surgery and contracted bacterial meningitis. She received a spinal fusion a few years later and now has eight titanium screws and two rods supporting her thoracic and lumbar spine. She went on to graduate from the College of Charleston in 2009 with a B.A. in Communications with a focus on Communication Theory. Katie uses her chronic health conditions to make a positive impact by advocating and sharing her experiences with others.
Katie has embraced the age of social media and that has brought her unique opportunities such as video contributions to the TODAY Show, and Our Neck of the Woods, Katie’s personal vlog project on YouTube. Katie enjoys traveling, exploring new cultures and food, while sharing with others the positive impact creativity can have in their own lives.
Katie Thompson 