Karen Boone, a natural artist
In my artistic practice I use less toxic materials like foraged ochres from my property, creek clay and charred wood, a reciprocal approach to sharing with nature and the wilderness. I grind them in a pestle mortar to mix with walnut oil or gum arabic and clove oil. I apply paint to canvas, recycled cardboard sculpture or air-dry clay, with a base layer of plant-based gesso, which contains no horse hooves or rabbit skin. I backpack and hike in pristine wilderness, and have been vegetarian most of my life, so it is essential for me to work with materials that are as sustainable as possible.
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 currently live on a peaceful little farm in Borden Indiana with my partner Rick Runyon.
Solo exhibitions
2023 - Intertwined | Mary Anderson Gallery, Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality
2022 - Earthen | Mary Anderson Gallery, Mount Saint Francis Center for Spirituality
Group exhibitions
2025 - KMAC Triennial, where the rivers run muddy and the mountains are bare, Louisville KY
2025 - Yosemite Renaissance 40 Exhibition | Yosemite Gateway Art Center, CA
2025 - The Matriarch Reloaded: We Mother the Earth | Chestnut and Pearls Art Gallery, IN
2024 - Abide by the Answer | Karen Boone & Rachel Singel, Louisville Grows Healthy House Gallery
2024 - Mothering Me | Floyd County Carnegie Library Cultural Arts Center
2024 - I am Woman | Chestnuts and Pearls Gallery, New Albany IN
2024 - Old Gangsters Swimming Hole Residency Online Exhibition and Artist Talk
www.theswimminghole.org/projects-8
2023 - Midwest Regional Sustainability Summit | Cinncinati, Ohio
2023 - Taking Shape: Abstraction To Figuration | curated by Jackie Gendel on Artsy.net
2023 - The Space Between | curated by Michael Shemchuk on Artsy.net
2022 - Works on Paper | juried by Kerry Downey
2021 - Cultivate! | curated by Ben Sollee, Southern Indiana
2021 - Pigment Revealed Exhibition | juried online international symposium
2021 - Imaginary Travels | juried show, juror John Yoyogi Fortes
2020 - Natural Worlds | juror Michael Shemchuk
2020 - Home | juried show, Garfield Park Arts Center, Indianapolis, IN
Residencies and Grants
2025 - Great Meadows Foundation Grant recipient, Helsinki Biennial, Finland, Summer
2023 - Swimming Hole Foundation Artist Residency | by invitation only, Catskills, NY
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
Graphic Design and Branding
