We recently had the chance to connect with Kat Barrow-Horth and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Kat, thank you for taking the time to reflect back on your journey with us. I think our readers are in for a real treat. There is so much we can all learn from each other and so thank you again for opening up with us. Let’s get into it: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
I am an early riser, so the first 90 minutes of my day start at 5:00 am! My husband Reed and I will grab a cup of coffee, put on an educational podcast and get to drawing comic, cartoon and book characters. We are both illustrators and create free art activity sheets for students and teachers for the nonprofit we founded, Comic Kids. It is the perfect way to ease into the day while also making certain our mission is fulfilled: To make art free and accessible to children in need.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Kat Barrow-Horth—a Miami native, creative entrepreneur, and passionate advocate for arts education. My husband Reed and I are the founders of Comic Kids, a nonprofit that brings free, high-quality art programs to underserved children, and co-owners of Robin Rile Fine Art, a private art brokerage that places museum-quality works in collections around the world. We launched our art business in 2008, and after the birth of our son, felt a deep calling to give back through creativity. What started as volunteer art classes with Big Brothers Big Sisters grew into Comic Kids, which officially launched in 2020.
Today, Comic Kids partners with hospitals, shelters, and schools—including Nicklaus Children’s Hospital, Lotus House, and the Ryan Seacrest Foundation—to make drawing accessible and joyful for children who need it most. We’ve taught thousands of kids how to draw comic, cartoon, and book characters, and in 2024, we partnered with Scholastic to distribute books to children across South Florida. Our work has been featured on The Kelly Clarkson Show, and we’re now developing a bilingual book and video series to reach kids globally. At the heart of everything we do is a simple belief: art can change lives—and every child deserves the chance to be creative.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
I’ve always danced to the beat of my own drum—and the older I get, the more emboldened I feel to keep doing just that. My mom was told in Kindergarten that I would be an artist, and she wasn’t wrong. Even though I tried to follow a more conventional path—at one point even starting pre-med in college—the arts have always called to me. I was lucky to have parents who saw and nurtured that side of me. My dad would sit in my room while I wrote poetry all over the walls, and he’d print out my emails because he loved the way I wrote. That kind of unconditional support helped me understand that creativity wasn’t just a passion—it was part of who I am.
The arts have shaped every part of my life—my writing, my drawing, my love of storytelling, even my lifestyle (and yes, my deep affection for costumes!). I think society often misunderstands or undervalues the arts because they’re not seen as “practical,” but I couldn’t disagree more. Creative people make everything possible—they build our apps, design our clothes and furniture, compose the music we live by. I believe that kids should be encouraged to follow their own paths, especially the creative ones. When adults support that, we’re not just raising artists—we’re raising innovators, thinkers, and world-shapers. We are absolutely allowed to spread our wings and be the people we were placed here to be!
What fear has held you back the most in your life?
For a long time, the fear that held me back the most was a paralyzing fear of failure. I avoided trying new things simply because I didn’t want to risk them not working out. But everything shifted in 2020, when my New Year’s resolution was to “get out of my own way.” I dove headfirst into self-help books, journaling, and meditation—and what I discovered was eye-opening. I started to notice this voice in my head that constantly whispered doubts: you’re going to fail, it won’t work, don’t try.
Once I realized how much power that voice had over me, I began fighting back. I even visualized myself as Wonder Woman, deflecting those negative thoughts with golden cuffs—and surprisingly, it worked. That same year, despite the chaos of COVID, we launched our nonprofit, Comic Kids. Now, I don’t let fear call the shots. I’ve built a new relationship with risk, one where I lead with grit, trust my abilities, and keep moving forward—no matter what.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Whom do you admire for their character, not their power?
The person I admire most for their character—not their power—is my mom. She’s the strongest person I know. She was born in New York in 1940 and married her high school sweetheart, who was later deployed to Vietnam. When his plane was shot down, she became a 24-year-old widow with three children under the age of three. Instead of giving up, she packed up her life on a military base in Maine and drove to Miami in the mid-1960s, determined to start over. She raised her kids on her own, working at the United Way and slowly earning her college degree over 12 years—one class at a time.
She eventually met my dad and had me when my siblings were teenagers. My mom never complained, never acted like a victim, and always led with quiet strength and fierce resilience. Even now, as I care for her through dementia, she remains gracious and tough. Just today, I told her she was “the biggest baller I know.” I had to explain what that meant, and we both laughed—and then cried. Being raised by a woman like her puts everything into perspective. Her character shaped my own more than any book or degree ever could.
Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
Something I understand deeply—perhaps more than most—is the emotional undercurrent of people. I’m a huge empath, and while that can be both a blessing and a curse, I truly consider it my superpower. I feel things deeply and am highly attuned to the emotions of others, which can sometimes be overwhelming—but it also allows me to connect with people on a profound level.
I think anyone who starts a nonprofit probably shares that same emotional wiring. Empaths often take on the burdens of others because we genuinely believe we can help ease them. For my husband and me, that sense of responsibility became Comic Kids. We believe deeply that every child—especially those in vulnerable circumstances—deserves free access to art education. It’s not just about drawing. It’s about healing, hope, and helping kids feel seen.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.comickids.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comic_kids_org
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/artdealerdiva/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@comic_kids_org
Image Credits
The Kelly Clarkson Show
