It all began in Italy…
During a summer in the early ‘90s, as an architecture student, I had the opportunity to study in Vicenza, a northern Italian city in the Veneto region. Much of my time was spent training my eyes to see—and my hands to record—the beauty before me.
With a pencil and a travel watercolor set in hand, my journey into architectural watercolor began.
Years later, as a licensed architect, I continued to sketch as an essential part of the design process. Even in an era of computer-generated images, there is something invaluable about about a quick, hand-drawn, expressive sketch as it can evoke feelings and ideas and capture a sense of place.
Eventually, my path led to teaching, where I had the joy of sharing my appreciation for architecture, art, and classical design with high school students.
Today I return to the pastime I loved so much: making art about architecture. Once again, I find myself with pencil and watercolor in hand, looking closely at the places around me and recording the architectural details that capture my attention.
Through my work, I hope to share that sense of discovery—and an appreciation of the beauty, craftsmanship, and enduring character of architecture shaped over time.
To art, architecture, and timeless beauty!
~Kerri Pleban
ARTIST’S BIOGRAPHY
Kerri Pleban is an architect, artist, and educator living in Memphis, Tennessee.
Kerri received a Bachelor of Science in Architecture and a Master of Architecture from the University of Virginia. A formative part of her architectural education was a summer spent studying in the Veneto region of Italy, where she learned to observe the built world closely, recording what she saw with a pencil and watercolor.
Kerri became a licensed architect and continues to maintain her architectural license with the Commonwealth of Virginia. For the past two decades, she has focused primarily on education, sharing her interest in the intersection of art and architecture with students through lectures and workshops on architecture and classical design.
Today Kerri returns to the practice that began during her architectural studies in Italy: making art about architecture. Working in ink and watercolor, she draws inspiration from architecture encountered through travel, with a particular interest in the details, craftsmanship, and character that give places their distinctive sense of identity.
Through her artwork, she hopes to foster a deeper appreciation for the beauty of the built world and the enduring value of architecture shaped by place, time, and human hands.