Karen Lehrer

Southern California based painter, Karen Lehrer has been pursuing creative artistic expressions since childhood. This former textile designer creates nonobjective, multi layered paintings rich with texture and reoccurring themes. She captures the essence of architecture and nature, the shapes, colors and forms and combines them with her own personal and symbolic vocabulary. Karen’s work is celebrated by interior designers for her imaginative use of color and repeating patterns.

Artist's Statement:
I’m inspired by the repeating patterns and shapes I notice all around me – in design, architecture, and nature. Currently I am influenced by the textures which result from erosion on man made and natural surfaces such as rust, wood, weathered stones, and moss or algae patterns which only nature can create. I find myself using this symbolic language of patterns and shapes to more accurately depict and describe the world around me, both physical and imagined.

Education

1996 MA Pacifica Graduate Institute, Santa Barbara, CA
1993 BA Antioch University, Los Angeles, CA
1988-1991 Private study of painting with Martin Lubner, Venice, CA
1975-1976 Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, Los Angeles, CA
1971 AA Los Angeles, City College, Los Angeles, CA
1966-1967 Art Center College of Design, Los Angeles, CA

Solo Shows

2016 Santa Barbara Public Market, Santa Barbara, CA
2013 Zocolo Gallery, Sausalito, CA
2010 Milk and Honey, Santa Barbara, CA
2010 Carr Winery, Santa Barbara, CA
2010 Canary Hotel, Santa Barbara, CA
1997 Thought Forms Floating in Space, Edge Gallery, Malibu, CA

Group Shows

2016 then/NOW, Santa Barbara Arts Fund, Santa Barbara, CA
2016 Off the Wall, Santa Barbara Museum of Art, Santa Barbara, CA
2015 Arts Fund, Santa Barbara, CA
2015 Corridan Gallery/Santa Barbara Studio Artists Tour, Santa Barbara, CA
2013 One Night Stand, AFS Brooks Institute Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2013 New Oceanscapes, AFS Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2012 One Night Stand, AFS Brooks Institute Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2011 One Night Stand, AFS Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2008 Caruso Woods/Frameworks Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA
2006 Southern California Artists, Mad River Summer Show, Santa Monica, CA
2005 National Congress of Art and Design, Salt Lake City, Utah
2003 Images and Origins, Reflections of Women Artists, Los Angeles, CA