(1970 – )

Karen Stewart

Contemporary
Overview

Karen Stewart works in paint, paper and clay and makes bespoke jewellery from her studio in Cape Town. She loves working with off cuts and discarded bits and pieces, which she collect in my studio, she reshapes these to create new works and it this transformation that she says intrigues, delights and restores her.

Karen has wanted to be an artist since she was seven, and made art at an oil painter’s house in the 70s. The smell of oil paint always fills her with nostalgia. She studied her Masters at Stellenbosch University and specialised in botanical art. She is fascinated by the relationship between art and science and her thesis was an in depth look at how the colonial plant collectors both used indigenous knowledge to discover new plants but also systematically suppressed indigenous knowledge. She is still passionate about botanical art and curates exhibitions which promote the artform. She often works collaboratively and is proud of the work she did with Cara Savan on the CS&CO artists range of wall coverings.

“I seek to uncover the hidden, embrace the magical and find wonder in the small things in my work”.

Her art has been exhibited in Johannesburg, Lagos, Cape Town and Helsinki, and her work is in the prestigious Brenthurst Library and University of Stellenbosch’s Africana Library. Her work has been placed in corporate collections.

She is the author and designer of a book about creative facilitation entitled Boxcutter published by the Cape Craft and Design Institute.

Education

2005 – 2007
MPhil (Fine Art), University of Stellenbosch

1990
Graphic Design Certificate, Johannesburg Art Foundation, Johannesburg

1988 -1989
BA (Fine Art) University of Witwatersrand, Johannesburg

1987
St Domonics Convent for Girls, Matriculated with university exemption, Boxburg

Exhibitions

Solo Exhibitions

2019
The Anxiolytic Effect Solo Show, Candice Berman Gallery, Design Joburg, Sandton Convention Centre, Johannesburg

2017
Streets Ahead, Art and Design Centre, Cape Town

2007
Opening the Curiosity Box, National Library of South Africa, Cape Town

 Group Exhibitions

2023
Ceramics SA Regional Exhibition, Cape Town
Maker’s Mark Ceramics Exhibition, Hangklip Ceramics Festival

2021
Art on Paper XII, Kalkbay Modern, Cape Town

2020 – Oct 2021
Art is Where the Home is, Zeits Mocca, Cape Town

2019
Lagos Biennial 2, Àkéte Art Foundation, Lagos, Nigeri
Pop In Art Sale curated by Lorette du Toit, Paul du Toit’s Art Studio, Cape Town
#ArtLadies, Berman Contemporary, Rand Steam, Johannesburg
Big in Japan, Candice Berman Gallery at 100% Design, Johannesburg
The Anxiolytic Effect, RMB Turbine Art Fair, Illovo, Johannesburg
New Blood, Art@first Association, First Rand Bank, Sandton
Works on Paper X, Kalk Bay Modern, Cape Town

2018
The Weather Girls, Dorp Street Gallery, Stellenbosch

2007
Greenhouse – from Painting to Plastic, Bell-Roberts Gallery, Stellenbosch
Small Spaces, Big Places, US Gallery, Stellenbosch

2006
The Collage Show, What if the World Gallery, Cape Town

2004
Far and Wide, Absa Gallery, Johannesburg

2004
For the record/Off the record, Thomson Gallery, Johannesburg

2003
YDEsire 4th Softserve Party, Castle of Good Hope, Cape Town

2001
South Africa Today, Helsinki Convention Centre, Finland

1997
Volkskas Atelier Awards Exhibition, Bloemfontein (Honorable Mention)
EurovirusB4/97, Carfax Gallery, Johannesburg

Featured Artwork
Load More