Artist Statement
Karen Marki is interested in the compelling juxtaposition of urban and natural environments: chartreuse moss clinging to a weathered telephone pole; crocus pushing up through concrete; lichen-covered graffiti at the seawall. Her paintings are a modern interpretation of the familiar, infused with texture, motion, and hieroglyphic markings. Her latest series, “Scenes from the Marsh”, merges her love of textiles, patterns, design, and nature. The colour contrasts used in the series are rich and reminiscent of the mid-century art that also inspires her work. Each of Karen’s works are layers of several paintings built onto the canvas like an excavation site. Her process relies on unusual tools to create markings and mimic the beauty of aging elements, foliage, graffiti, and objects from nature. She prefers painting on hazy days as the filtered light creates the mood and sentiment of her art.
Artist Bio
Karen Marki lives and creates her art in Vancouver, BC after moving to Canada from San Francisco. Self-taught as an artist, Karen’s many years of working for social justice and environment-focused non-profit organizations has helped inform her craft as a painter. She is focused on the impact of climate change and strives to use her nature-inspired art to bring awareness to this urgent topic. Karen is a juried Exhibiting Member of the Federation of Canadian Artists since 2019 and her art can be found in homes and offices throughout Canada and abroad.
