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.

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.

select bibliography
• “2009 LEDA Art Invitational Focuses on Photography”, Lincoln-Times News, July 2009.
• “Art Show Debuts Friday”, Lincoln-Times News, January 2009.
• “Art Stroll Planned for Downtown”, Lincoln-Times News, December 2008.
• “LEDA Art Invitational a Success”, Lincoln-Times News, December 2008.
• “Picture Gallery” Art Business News, October 2008.
• Winners Announced in Annual Photography Competition, Charlotte Observer, September 2008. “Storm at Bodie Island” by Banker named Runner-up.
• “Picture Galley” Art Business News, May 2008.
• “Gallery Lights”, Art World News Magazine, March 2008.
• “One to Know: Artist Pursued Her Dream”, Lake Norman Times, January 2008.
• “Banker to Debut in NoDa Arts District”, Lincoln Tribune, December 2007
• “Banker’s Work to be in Two Exhibits”, Charlotte Observer, November 2007.
• “Artist Loves to Push Envelope”, Lincoln-Times News, November 2007.
• “Works by Karen Banker”, Carolina Arts Magazine, November 2007.
• “Calling All Art Lovers”, Sarah Paris blogspot, November 2007.
• “County Winners’ Art Now on Display”, Lincoln-Times News, October 2007.
• “Art Goes Outside the Gallery”, Lincoln-Times News, September 2007.

notable collections
• Harold and Virginia Loewenstine Private Collection, Cincinnati, Ohio.
• Mary Whisonant Private Collection, Beaufort, South Carolina.
• Various works in private collections throughout the United States.