Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators

Kathy Rooney is an accomplished, innovative digital historic illustrator creating engaging work with a unique vintage-meets-modern style. Her visual storytelling is enhanced through the intersection of art and technology.

Her freelance career took off in 2002 when the Pittsburgh Steelers commissioned her to create a 62 ft. x 13 ft. digital mural showcasing the city of Pittsburgh and its past and present sports venues. Steelers President, Dan Rooney, commissioned the Mural. The subject matter, which he sketched out himself, was all his idea. Kathy worked with Dan in producing the Mural getting approvals from him for every detail. It was a joyous collaboration. The Mural remains on display on the front of the Pittsburgh Steelers Practice Facility building and continues to sell as replica prints nationwide.

Kathy’s talent extends beyond sports murals. She has also created vibrant cityscape campus maps for prestigious institutions such as Duquesne University and Point Park University. These maps, displayed as murals throughout the campuses, add a captivating aesthetic to the university environment.

Additionally, Kathy’s work and expertise has been recognized in the film industry, where she contributed 11 historical illustrations for the PBS science documentary film, “UNDAUNTED: The Forgotten Giants of the Allegheny Observatory.”

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 Coordinator for an upcoming group art exhibit with the Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators entitled “My America, An Illustrated Experience” at the Senator John Heinz History Center, an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution, in downtown Pittsburgh. The show will commemorate the 250th anniversary of the Constitution and will incorporate items from the museum collections to be displayed with the relevant artworks. The exhibit opens in October, 2025 and will run through 2026. I will also be a contributing artist.

Kathy is the Review Board Chiar of Pittsburgh Society of Illustrators.