"That "thing" is likely one of Wakeman's signature creations - security gates that transcend their functional purpose to become neighborhood landmarks. Her journey began with a chance encounter when her neighbor, a welder, agreed to fix her car seat on one condition: she had to learn some welding too. That spark of curiosity led her to Windsor, Ontario, where her grandparents lived across from a welding school, and eventually to her first welding job in Oakland."
"The turning point came when an architect friend connected her with clients who wanted a peacock-themed gate for their Castro district home. Fresh out of a business partnership and facing a challenging solo project, Wakeman took the leap. "I said to hell with it," she recalls. The resulting creation became an instant neighborhood sensation, with passersby stopping to ask for her contact information."
"What followed was a cascade of commissions that established her reputation as "The Gate Girl." Her second major project for Muttville senior dog rescue generated even more buzz, and word spread organically through San Francisco's interconnected communities. Each installation becomes a neighborhood event, with curious residents emerging to watch and chat. "I always call it like the mayor of the neighborhood usually comes and tells me all about the"
Katie Wakeman creates vibrant, ornate security gates that function as public artworks and neighborhood landmarks throughout San Francisco. Her welding journey began after a neighbor fixed her car seat on the condition she learn to weld, which led to training near her grandparents in Windsor and a first welding job in Oakland. A peacock-themed Castro gate sparked widespread local interest and launched a cascade of commissions. A second high-profile project for Muttville senior dog rescue increased her visibility, turning installations into communal events and earning her the reputation as "The Gate Girl."
Read at ABC7 Los Angeles
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