Karen Rieger

Colour is of prime importance in my work, evoking mood, sensuality and a sense of beauty.

My paintings are a rich pastiche comprised of diverse inspirations such as the avant-garde and post-impressionist movements of the 19th and 20th centuries, European textile patterns and sources derived from my immediate environment. A dialogue between my imagination and the past informs the work.

The painting begins to reveal itself as the brush interacts with the canvas. There are no preparatory sketches. The process of creating the painting is intuitive and remains exciting and spontaneous. The composition is drawn directly onto the canvas with conte´ or brush, beginning with the figure or a vase of flowers, and then creating the surrounding environment. When the composition is completed with the various elements in place, the underpainting is begun. Layers of paint are added to the surface, allowing the colour of the underpainting to show through, creating richness and a depth to the surface colour.

The faces are derived from my imagination, the features generalized to suggest universality rather than a specific person. Inspiration for the still life paintings may come from a bouquet on my table, or many times they simply emerge luxuria...

Ontario College of Art
The Art Center, Central Technical School
University of Toronto

Solo Exhibitions (Selected)

2022 Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, “Flora & Fauna”June
2013 Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, “Flourish”, April
2012 Atti Gallery, Toronto, November
2010 Hollander York Gallery, Toronto, May
Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, “Evening”,February
2008 Hollander York Gallery, Toronto, November
Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, “Belle Epoque”May
2007 Hollander York Gallery, Toronto, May
2006 Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, August
2005 Hollander York Gallery, Toronto, October
West End Gallery Edmonton, April,
2004 Hollander York Gallery, Toronto, May
2003 Hollander York Gallery, Toronto, April
2002 Hollander York Gallery, Toronto, April


Group Exhibitions (Selected)
2024 Petite Art Show, Online, “Spring Has Sprung”, May
24th-26th
2024 Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, “Winter”, Feb-March
2023 Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle “Small Works”,
November
2023 Fountainhead Gallery, Seattle, “Fall”, October
2023 Matilda Swanson Gallery, Stratford, “Wild Things”,
August
2023 Lando Gallery, Edmonton, Featured Artist, April
2021 Fountainhead Gallery, “25 Springs”, April
2017 OCADU + Gowlings, Juried Group Exhibition, ...