overview

Karen is passionate about the existence and mystery of the human soul and our life-long journey back to true self. Through her layering of paints and use of mixed media, Karen creates works of art that first mesmerize and then compel us to begin our journeys inward.

Karen has been featured in numerous publications, including Art World News, Carolina Arts, Lake Norman Times, Lincoln-Times News, Lincoln Tribune, and the radio talk show, “The Gallery”.

image gallery

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about the artist

Karen Banker is an American artist living in the rural hamlet of Pumpkin Center, near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, in the Charlotte region of North Carolina. Her award-winning works have been exhibited, collected, and published throughout the United States, and commissioned by private collectors and organizations.

Karen has been featured in numerous publications, including Art World News, Carolina Arts, Lake Norman Times, Lincoln-Times News, Lincoln Tribune, and the radio talk show, “The Gallery”.

Born in Wisconsin and raised in rural Ohio, she most recently lived in Miami, Florida, where her work was on display at the Ritz-Carlton during Art Basel-Miami Beach, in addition to the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA).

She is passionate about the existence and mystery of the human soul and our life-long journey back to true self. Through her layering of paints and use of mixed media, Karen creates works of art that first mesmerize and then compel us to begin our journeys inward.

exhibitions

solo exhibitions

2011
• Resilience, One-Woman Show, The Loft Gallery on Court Street, Lincolnton, NC

2009
• Thought for Food, One-Woman Show, COSMOS Gallery, Charlotte, NC

2008
• Silent Prayers, One-Woman Show, Beet Gallery, NoDa Arts District, Charlotte, NC

2007
• Vibrant Silence, One-Woman Show, Cochrane Gallery, Lincolnton, NC

selected group / juried exhibitions

2011
• Big & Little, Two person show with Catawba River Potter, Luke Heafner
• A Natural View, Juried. Schiele Museum, Gastonia, NC
• Art with Heart, Jury Selected for Live Auction Program, United Family Services, Charlotte, NC

2010
• 6th Annual Holiday Square Works Show, Providence Gallery, Charlotte, NC
• Masters’ Mystery exhibit in conjunction with Art Basel Miami, Ritz-Carlton, Miami Beach, FL
• East Meets West: Appalachians to the Rockies, Gallery 317, Lincolnton, NC.
• James Harrill Memorial Wall of Art, Juried. Carolina Medical Center, Lincolnton, NC

2009
• Two Broads and a Band, Two-Woman Show, Rusty’s Gallery, Lincolnton, NC
• Denver Art Trail, Juried. Lake Norman Gallery & Frameworks, Denver, NC
• Rethinking the Ordinary, Juried. LEDA Board Room Gallery, Lincolnton, NC
• LEDA Artists and Friends, Juried. St. Luke’s Exhibit Hall, Lincolnton, NC

2008
• LEDA Artists Group Show, Juried. St. Luke’s Exhibit Hall, Lincolnton, NC
• LEDA Art Invitational ‘08, Juried. LEDA Board Room Gallery, Lincolnton, NC

2007
• Art About Town, Invitational Public Art Exhibition, First Charter Bank, Lincolnton, NC
• Time Lost and Moments Ignored, Lake Norman Gallery & Frameworks, Denver, NC

2006
• Denver Art Trail, Lake Norman Gallery & Frameworks, Denver, NC
• Paul Rhyne Annual Juried Art Competition, Award winner. Cochrane Gallery, Lincolnton, NC
• 28th Annual Frank Stick Memorial Art Show, Ghost Fleet Gallery, Nags Head, NC

2005
• For Everyone and No One exhibit, Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami, FL
• Masters’ Mystery exhibit in conjunction with Art Basel Miami, Ritz-Carlton, Miami Beach, FL
• The Glass Gallery Annual Juried Art Exhibit, Pembroke Pines, FL

publications

select bibliography

2010
• “Gallery 317 Markets Artwork”, Lincoln-Times News, July.
• “Gallery 317 Features Work by Karen Banker”, Carolina Arts Magazine, June.
• “Art Mill Creates Space for Artists to Create”, Lincoln-Times News, May.

2009
• “Art Invitational Focuses on Fine Art Photography”, Lincoln-Times News, July.
• “Art Show Debuts Friday”, Lincoln-Times News, January.

2008
• “Art Stroll Planned for Downtown”, Lincoln-Times News, December.
• “LEDA Art Invitational a Success”, Lincoln-Times News, December.
• “Picture Gallery” Art Business News, October.
• “Winners Announced in Annual Photography Competition”, Charlotte Observer, September. “Storm at Bodie Island” by Banker named Runner-up.
• “Picture Galley” Art Business News, May.
• “Gallery Lights”, Art World News Magazine, March.
• “One to Know: Artist Pursued Her Dream”, Lake Norman Times, January.

2007
• “Banker to Debut in NoDa Arts District”, Lincoln Tribune, December.
• “Banker’s Work to be in Two Exhibits”, Charlotte Observer, November.
• “Artist Loves to Push Envelope”, Lincoln-Times News, November.
• “Works by Karen Banker”, Carolina Arts Magazine, November.
• “Calling All Art Lovers”, Sarah Paris blogspot, November.
• “County Winners’ Art Now on Display”, Lincoln-Times News, October.
• “Art Goes Outside the Gallery”, Lincoln-Times News, September.

more

notable commissioned work
• “Mary Magdalene”, commissioned painting for award-winning Epic Repertory Theater production “The Goddess and the Magdalene”, Charlotte, North Carolina. 2007.

radio, talks, panels
• “The Process of Abstraction”, The Gallery: Creative Traces, Radio Program hosted by Dottie Moore. Featured guest. April 2008.

artist advocacy leadership

• Creator & Co-Developer, The Art Mill, Artist Studios, Lincolnton, North Carolina. 2010.
• Founder, Gallery 317, Lincolnton, North Carolina. 2010.
• Art Educator, Private Lessons, Lincolnton, North Carolina. 2010.
• Co-Founder, Art Stroll of Downtown Lincolnton, Lincolnton, North Carolina. 2008-09.
• Founder, LEDA Annual Art Invitational, Lincolnton, NC. 2008-10.
• Curator, LEDA Annual Art Invitational, Lincolnton, NC. 2010.
• Chairperson, National Artist Relocation Program, Lincolnton, NC. 2007-08.
• Board Member, Downtown Development Association, Lincolnton, NC. 2006-09.
• Committee Member, Design Work Group, Lincolnton, North Carolina. 2006-09.