Karen Friedland — www.ArtistKaren.com

Blue NudeAn artist for more than 20 years, Friedland’s earlier careers had little to do directly with art. Out of college with a Journalism degree, she wrote proposals for grants. A partial master in Communications Research and an MBA helped further her corporate sector careers in Marketing, Merchandising and Advertising.

Study in Interior Design at Pratt Institute was a turning point when one of her instructors suggested she illustrate children’s books. While not having done that exactly, that teacher’s support gave Friedland the confidence to pursue art seriously.

Friedland worked independently developing painting skills, taking occasional workshops with well-known artists and going to the Art Students League. Last year she returned to college to get art prerequisites in preparation for an MFA program, which she will enter in the fall.

By the CanalA Teaching Artist, Friedland has taught art to mainstream and special needs children and adults for more than 12 years. As a devoted transplant to Brooklyn, New York, she buries a Brooklyn Bridge symbol in each of her paintings. A community activist, Friedland founded and led the Flatbush Artist Studio Tour.

Friedland’s work has been shown extensively across the country and received awards in exhibits of: Hilton Head Art League, Northwest Watercolor Society, Pastel Society of America, Mississippi Watercolor Society, amongst others.

Flower ForestFriedland’s paintings are represented by The Robley Gallery in Albertson, New York. She will have a solo show at Alfa Art Gallery in New Brunswick, New Jersey in late January.

Karen Friedland about “Patterns of Sensation”

Women Series – Women, by establishing the home environment, determine how we live and the shape of domestic life.  These figures’ perceptions are demonstrated by the stance of their bodies and the bearing of their attire.  Their attitudes engage us.  With one look, they communicate more than their words could ever say.

Elephant Series – These lumbering giants are able to convey a sensitivity and gentleness that belies their great size.  A metaphor for humanity, the elephant paintings are about the relationships and sociability that both species enjoy.  Looking into the elephants’ eyes, you see their loving warmth and affection.

Blue Door, MorocoMorocco Series – My travels have taken me to the Middle East and North Africa. The colors, architecture, people, even the smells and the light affected me with the magic of all that is beautiful and exotic there.  I felt infected by the images around me. In my work as an artist, color has been paramount for me and the colors of Arabia stimulated my artistic sensibilities. It inspired an outpouring of work to try to capture the mythical nature of the culture and place.

Chair Series – A love of architecture and a background in interior design makes depicting interiors natural for me. This series depicts domestic interiors from the position of power and safety that perching on a chair provides.  They provide ideal opportunities for my diverse use of pattern and color.

GALLERY REPRESENTATION

2010 The Robley Gallery, Albertson, NY

ONE-PERSON EXHIBITIONS

2011 “Patterns of Sensation”, Alfa Art Gallery, New Btunswick, NJ
2009 “Flatbush Artists Studio Tour”,Brooklyn, NY
BWAC “Wide Open”, Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, Brooklyn, NY
2008 “Flatbush Artists Studio Tour”,Brooklyn, NY
2006 “At This Time”,718 Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2005 “Stops Along The Way”, Fast Frame, Short Hills, NJ
Citywide Open Studios, Brooklyn, NY
2004 Karen Friedland, Fine Artist Show, OGGI Salon & Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
“Then and Now” Acrylic and Pastel Paintings, Brooklyn, NY
2001 “Small Gems” Pastels, Prints, Monotypes & Collage, Brooklyn Arts Exchange
Park Slope, Brooklyn, NY
2000 Karen Eve Friedland – Paintings,Educational Testing Service, Princeton, NJ
1998 Paintings by Karen Eve Friedland, The First Decade, Hazleton Art League,
Hazleton, PA

SELECTED NATIONAL/INTERNATIONAL EXHIBITIONS

2008 BWAC “Art in Free Fall”,Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, Brooklyn, NY
BWAC “HOT”, Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, Brooklyn, NY
BWAC “Spring Ahead”, Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, Brooklyn, NY
Clinton Hill Gallery, Brooklyn, NY
2007 BWAC Narratives Show, Brooklyn Waterfront Artists Coalition, Brooklyn, NY
2005 BWAC Pier Show 12, Brooklyn, NY
The Square Foot Show, Art Gotham Gallery, Chelsea, NYC
“From This Point In Time”,Pleiades Gallery, Chelsea, NYC
2004 BWAC Solo Show,Brooklyn, NY
BWAC Water Show, Brooklyn, NY
BWAC Painters Show,Brooklyn, NY
2003 BWAC Pier Show 11, Brooklyn, NY
2003 National Juried Art Exhibit, Hilton Head (SC) Art League, Award: Honorary Mention
2000 Pastel Society of America 28th Annual Pastel Exhibition, Pastel Society of America, New York, N.Y
1999 Cheyenne Artists’ Guild 30th Annual Art Competition,Cheyenne (WY) Artists’ Guild
Pastel Society of America 27th Annual, Pastel Society of America, New York, N.Y.
Waterworks ’99, Northwest Watercolor Society, Issaquah Gallery, Seattle, WA
1998 Mississippi Grand National Watercolor Exhibition 1998, Jackson, MS
1997 Pastel Society of Oregon 10th National Juried Show, Coors Bay, ORPastel Society of America 25th Annual Open Exhibition,National Arts Club, New York, NY.
17th Annual Faber Birren National Color Award Show, Stamford (CT) Art Association
Cheyenne (WY) Artists Guild 28th Art Competition 1997 Havre de Grace (MD) Art Commission Annual Juried Exhibition.
Oklahoma (City, OK) Art Guild 29th Annual Juried Art Show

PUBLICATIONS & REVIEWS

Lizard“Strong Pictures Get A Point Across: Teens Put Life (and Art) Up On A Billboard,” Arts and Activities, February 2009
“Good Vibrations,” Karen Friedland, The Artist’s Magazine, March 2000
“Art League Exhibit Preview Saturday”, Standard-Speaker, Hazelton, PA, 4/20/98
“Art League To Exhibit Works By Friedland”, Standard-Speaker, Hazelton, PA, 4/26/98
“Pocono Artist To Exhibit Paintings”, Citizens’ Voice, Wilkes-Barre, PA, 5/3/98
“Local Artist Retrospective”, Park Slope Courier, Brooklyn, NY, 5/4/98
“Friedland Exhibit At Hazelton Art League”, Burkhardt, Charles,Standard-Speaker, Hazelton, PA, 5/12/98
“Friedland On Exhibit”, Moersh, Timothy, Standard-Speaker, Hazelton, PA, 5/17/98
“Brooklyn Artist Featured At Art Exhibit In PA”, The Flatbush HOME NEWS, Brooklyn, NY, 5/21/98

AWARDS & SCHOLARSHIPS

  • Hilton Head Art League, 2003 National Juried Art Exhibit, Honorary Mention, Juror: Marilyn H. Phillis
  • Northwest Watercolor Society Annual Exhibition – Waterworks ’99, Past Presidents Award 1999
  • Pastel Society of America 27th Annual Pastel Exhibition
  • Sauter-Margulies Award 1999
  • Mississippi Watercolor Society, Mississippi Grand National Watercolor Exhibition 1998
  • Irby Construction Award ($500), Janet Walsh-Judge
  • Pastel Society of Oregon 10th National Juried Show –
  • Cheap Joe’s Art Supply Company Award 1997
  • Pastel Society of America 25th Annual Exhibition –
  • I. David Popkin Purchase Award 1997
  • Newport Beach (CA) Fall Open –
  • Recognition Award – Watercolor 1995
  • Pastel Society of America –
  • Scholarship 1994-95

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIP

  • Founder and Chair- Flatbush Artists
  • Created annual Flatbush Artists Studio Tour 6/08, Brooklyn, New York
  • Pacific Art League – Membership Awarded 1995
  • Northwest Watercolor Society – Signature Member 1996
  • Artists Conference Network, New York City, Leader 2006
  • Brooklyn Working Artists Coalition, Brooklyn, New York
  • City Without Walls, Newark, New Jersey
  • Pastel Society of America, New York, New York
  • Northwest Pastel Society, Issaquah, Washington

TEACHING

Teach visual arts in schools, integrating art skills and technique into classroom curriculum. Conduct professional development workshops to broaden art skills and support curriculum needs Work with seniors and caregivers and special needs adults to give creative experience.

On the roster as a teaching artist with the following organizations:

Brooklyn Arts Council, Brooklyn, NY 2008 -present
Artsgenesis, New York, NY 2002-2007
Arts Horizons, Englewood, NJ 2005-present
Readers Theater Workshop, Long Island City, NY 2004-present

EDUCATION

1989  Certificate in Interior Design, Pratt Institute
1981  MBA Management, NY Institute of Technology
1971  BS Ed. Journalism, NYU

ART EDUCATION 1989 – present

2009-present  Kingsborough Community College – prerequisites for MFA

Coursework & art study at

Parsons School of Design
School of Visual Arts
Fashion Institute of Technology
Art Students League

Special studies with the following prominent artists:

George James – Master Class
Miles Batt – Watercolor, Figure
Gerald Brommer – Collage
Polly Hammett – Figure, Printmaking
Katherine Chang Liu – Master Class
Glenn Bradshaw – Master Class
William Herring – Master Class
Louise Cadillac – Abstraction

Write a comment:

Your email address will not be published.

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.