Karen Boone, a natural artist

Like modern abstract petroglyphs, the work tells the story of human and planet coexistence through figures, rocks, flora and fauna. I try to capture the yin and yang energy in nature, the chaos and calm. My sustainability mission is to use less toxic and more natural materials, I forage for clays and charred wood, then hand-crush to mix with walnut oil to make earth paint. My goal is to bring the joy I find from natural environments, whether an extreme backpacking trek or simply in the garden to encourage others to love and protect the earth, to get outside and connect with nature, to feel and experience it on a deeper level. I want to explore new ways of combining earth pigment and recycled or neutral footprint materials, and do more immersive and larger scale paintings and sculpture for local, national and international exhibitions that focus on nature or climate.

I have my masters degree from the Basel School of Design Switzerland, and worked as a graphic designer for Pentagram Design New York and San Francisco, and also two years in Tokyo, Japan. I am a 3-time Kentucky Derby Festival Poster artist, and currently live on a peaceful little farm in Borden Indiana with my partner in adventure Rick Runyon.

Juried Shows, Exhibitions and Residencies:

2024: Mothering Me: Floyd County Carnegie Library Cultural Arts Center Group show Sept 21 thru Jan 2025

2024: Abide by the answer: work by karenboone & Rachel Singel September 8th at Louisville Grows Healthy House Gallery 

2024: Blue Crack and Cardboard Trees purchased by the collection of Larry Shapin and Ladonna Nicolas https://www.shapinnicolasartproject.com

2024: Old GangstHERS: Swimming Hole Residency Online Exhibition and Artist Talk https://www.theswimminghole.org/projects-8

2024: I am Woman, Chestnuts and Pearls Gallery New Albany IN

2023 Intertwined – solo exhibit of paintings and sculptures, Mary Anderson Center Gallery, Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality, Opening Reception Sept. 7 2023 

2023: Swimming Hole Foundation Artist Residency, by invitation only Catskills NY https://www.theswimminghole.org/?fbclid=IwAR3hD237tDv2bkWlz2JCsXwksd0352wL_2nTMayvYTEA29yrANtG4jdMooI

2023 Taking Shape: Abstraction To Figuration featured on Artsy.net

2023 The Space Between, curated by Michael Shemchuk and featured on Artsy.net 

2022 Earthen – solo exhibit of paintings and sculptures, Mary Anderson Center Gallery, Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality 

2022 Mother Nature, juror Jen Tough, and featured on Artsy

2022 Choice, juried show featured on Artsy

2022 Dreams, a Juried show featured on Artsy

2022: Assembly Required  juror Jen Tough, Jen Tough Gallery 

2022: Works on Paper juried by Kerry Downey 

2021: Imaginary Travels  juried show, juror John Yoyogi Fortes

2021: Art In Speed Park juried show, Indiana

2020: Multiplicity juried show, triptych, juror Diane Williams

2020: Flora-Fauna juried show Curator: Melissa Mohammadi

2020: Natural Worlds, juror Michael Shemchuk  

2020: Home 4 pieces juried in Garfield Park Arts Center, Indianapolis

2019: American Red Cross commissioned painting for their corporate collection

2018: Solo show at the George at 42, Louisville’s most prestigious zip code

2018: Invited to Pine Mountain artist retreat, member of the Pine Mountain Collective in Appalachia

2018: Abstracts Online Exhibition Special Recognition out of 952 entries from 29 different countries and 40 states. https://www.lightspacetime.art/abstracts-2018-art-exhibition-painting-other-media-category/

2018: LVA artist vignette 

2015: International Festivals & Events Association (IFEA) Silver Award: Best Commemorative Poster, Official KY Derby Festival Poster. Bronze Award: Best Commemorative Poster, Limited Edition Poster.

2015, 1999 and 1996: 3-time Kentucky Derby Festival Poster Artist

Work Experience/Education:

Karen Boone Design, graphic design/fine art since 1992

PAOS: Tokyo, Japan, Graphic designer 1990-1991

Pentagram Design, New York (junior designer for Peter Harrison) and San Francisco (senior designer for Kit Heinrichs) 1984-1989

BRS Amsterdam, Netherlands, design intern 1984

Basel School of Design, Switzerland Masters 1984

University of Louisville BA 1982

Sacred Heart Academy 1979