Mary Katherine “Kitty” Uetz, noted fiber artist, influential educator and beloved wife, passed away peacefully with her husband by her side on December 20, 2025, at her home in Pierce Township, Ohio. She had been in treatment for cancer for the last year and a half.
Kitty was born on August 19, 1945, in Dayton, Ohio to the late Phil and Billie Walters, and attended Northridge High School (class of 1963). She studied at the Dayton Art Institute, the University of Dayton, the University of Delaware and the University of Cincinnati, where she received her Bachelor and Master of Fine Arts degrees (1993). She served as Assistant to the Dean of Arts and Sciences and as University Ombuds at UC for 18 years. She then taught fiber arts at Xavier University and was Director for the Xavier University Art Galleries before retiring after 31 years.
Kitty’s work has encompassed a wide range of fiber art techniques, including weaving, dyeing, painting, rusting, color removal and a variety of ancient Japanese Shibori techniques in her capes, tapestries, paintings and mixed media pieces. Her art has been exhibited at museums and art galleries around the country as well as locally.
From her Artist’s Statement:
“For me, creating art is a celebration of the life, light and love that surrounds and nurtures us. I think of my art as ‘light dancing’ and hope to continue to explore and experiment.”
Kitty is survived by her loving husband of 46 years, George Uetz, her beloved cats Luke and Leia as well as her sisters Phylis Staley and Sue McGatha and her many nieces, nephews and their spouses.
A Celebration of Life for family and friends will be held on January 24th from 12:00 to 3:00. Please contact George.Uetz@uc.edu for location and directions.
In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden, the Ocean Conservatory or the Alzheimer’s Association.