I spent this past year in Provence, rediscovering my roots. Having visited Provence since I was a child, I have very fond memories at my grandparent’s home of playing in the fields and jumping into my great-grandfather’s fountain filled will very cold spring water. In my early 20’s, I went to the Leo Marchutz School of Painting in Aix-en-Provence. During that time, I fell in love with painting and grew to find this region as a spiritual haven. This past visit was the longest at over 10 months. It’s a place where I feel grounded and I’ve recently decided to make Provence my primary studio space.

Happy Spring !

I have so many great things to share with you!

After more than 10 months in France and Europe this past year, I developed a new body of work that will be exhibited this May at Calloway Fine Art & Consulting in Washington DC. I’m very excited to share with you these works and the development in which an email with the catalog will go out in 2 weeks. Right after the show opens, I will return to my studio in Provence to work for upcoming events and exhibitions over the next 8 or 9 months: a solo exhibition in Sisteron France in July/August; the spotlight alumni artist at the Leo Marchutz School in Aix-en-Provence; exhibiting some of my work in Monaco this September; and my work will be at the Estampa Art Fair in Madrid this October with the Uxval Gochez Gallery from Barcelona.

news, exhibitionKaren SilveApril 9, 2025Comment

Wishing you love & Peace!

Over this past year, I have driven through mountains and pastures throughout Italy and France. It has allowed me to contemplate how I weave through life while I continuously grow as an artist. I know how fortunate I am, and it is because of all of you! I appreciate your continued support.
I wish you a very warm holiday season filled with love, peace & joy !

travelKaren SilveDecember 19, 2024winter solstice, happy holidays, passages, drivingComment

Fall 2024

New Representation in Dallas Texas & The closing month of Personal Structures in Venice.

I’m honored to be with Breitbard Williams Fine Art in Dallas Texas. BWFA is a unique blend of art consulting and fine art gallery. Their 5200 square foot design district location showcases a revolving group show of over 50 mid-career to blue-chip contemporary artists.

Many Thanks to the ECC during the closing month of Personal Structures: Beyond Boundaries. They have done an extraordinary job in the organization and curation of this exhibition.

On View Now in Venice !

Personal Structures - ON VIEW NOW THROUGH NOVEMBER 2024
I am proud to be exhibiting my work “Passage” as a part of the Personal Structures Exhibition, “Beyond Boundaries”. Please stop by if you are in Venice! and tag me in your post.

Personal structures – Beyond Boundaries

Karen Silve at the Venice 2024 Art Biennial - Personal Structures

I am thrilled to be a part of this exhibition in Venice! My work will be on the 1st floor of Palazzo Mora with a special opening on Friday November 19th. See more to give you a better understanding of the importance of this exhibition.

exhibition, Personal StructuresKaren SilveApril 15, 2024New Works, venice, contemporary art exhibition, la biennialComment

A Sneak Peek

Wow! What a whirlwind getting ready for Personal Structures, the 7th Biennial exhibition by the European Cultural Center in Venice. It opens April 20th!

I was relieved that all of my artwork made it safely to France. In France I made sure the canvases stretched properly on their new stretcher bars, then rolled them up and drive them to Venice. It was a fantastic drive over the alps, and then, I arrived at one of the most beautiful cities in the world!

Reflection on this Winter Solstice

Wishing you and your loved ones a very warm holiday! And to embrace the darkness and the light to come on this winter solstice.

Thank You!

Thank you to the Oregon Arts Commission and The Ford Family Foundation

I am a proud recipient of the Career Opportunity Grant from the Oregon Arts Commission! See the Press-Release here.

I applied for the grant after I was invited to be a part of Personal Structures 2024, a 7-month exhibition in Venice by the European Cultural Center (ECC). Because this is in conjunction with La Biennale di Venezia from April 20th - Nov. 24th, 2024, the most focused art enthusiasts from the world will come to Venice as an art destination.

sea & shore, travel, exhibition, Personal StructuresKaren SilveJune 5, 2023Comment

New Works — Karen Silve

I'm excited to share with you these two new paintings inspired by my travels in Italy and France. They are on their way to the Madison Gallery in California. I've also included a commissioned artwork I finished at the end of last year for a Miami client. Plus, my solo exhibition at the Calloway Fine Art & Consulting Gallery in Georgetown going on right now!

sea & shore, travel, exhibitionKaren SilveMay 16, 2023New Works, Madison Gallery, Miami Commission, art commissions, solo exhibitonComment

The Sea & Shore

The artworks in my latest exhibition, The Sea & Shore, Finding Balance, were inspired by the journey I took this past summer from my studio in Provence to Italy, traveling between Venice and the Cinque Terre, where I enjoyed experiencing two shorelines. From the grandeur of Venice to the Cinque Terre’s cliff-side peasant villages, the interplay of these colorful old-world landscapes with the majestic sea created a colorful dance.

travel, sea & shoreKaren SilveApril 25, 2023venicevenice, abstract painting, inspired, travel inspired, sea & shoreComment

The Venice Painting

After visiting Venice this Spring, I returned to my studio in France and painted these five paintings.

I had never been to Venice, but always wanted to go one day. The day came this year, thanks to the European Cultural Council for contacting me about a possible exhibition opportunity in 2024. I decided to go and check out the ECC and the Biennale that opened in April and continues through November of this year.

Brittany Ferries - Salamanca

I am very honored to have my artwork in this incredible Ferry! Brittany Ferries latest ship, Salamanca, promises a smooth and quiet voyage with lower emissions being their first to use LNG (liquefied natural gas). The Ferry goes from Portsmouth UK to Bilbao Spain. On the interior, the design team wanted to embody the sights, sounds and tastes of the region she will serve giving passengers an experience of their destination from the moment they step on board. From delicious food and comfortable cabins, to fine art. I’m honored they chose my large paintings to be featured in the main atrium which embodies the spirit of the city of Salamanca, and Spain in general. My smaller works are also featured in the Portside Forward Lounge. I am thrilled!

Rejuvenation: My Bouquet—

Karen Silve at the Confluence of Courage and Hope - Essay by Richard Speer
Sometimes beauty alights as gently as dewdrops on the morning grass; other times it has to climb and claw its way up a dark crevasse until against all odds it emerges into the light of day. That latter brand of tenacious, hard-won beauty is central to the origin story of Rejuvenation: My Bouquet, Karen Silve’s sumptuous and inspiring new work.

Flowers of Hope

When I thought it couldn’t get worse… it did. Portland suffered from a lot of destruction downtown and nationalized riots. Then the wild fires came and Portland was under smoke for a couple of weeks. I couldn’t see my neighbor’s house and the smoke leaked into my old 1911 house. All of the sudden seeing any friends, indoor or out, was impossible. I closed off my house and stayed in one room with my studio air cleaner. A continuous claustrophobia overwhelmed me. I felt like I couldn’t breath.

Finding Clarity in the Rough

June 2020 - COVID has changed us forever and interrupted our lives. Uncertainty is something we live with now. However, some of these changes brings us more strength.

COVIDKaren SilveDecember 30, 2020contemporary painting, aqua painting, water painting, polyptychComment

GIVING THANKS!

With thee surgeries this year, it has been an extremely challenging year. In reflection, this painting “Savoring Moments” makes me happy and appreciate my experiences, travels and most importantly, the people who have given me great opportunities and surrounded me with hope and great memories! I’m savoring all of those memories now! This painting was inspired by all of the sights and smells while meandering through Old Town Nice, France :)

Karen SilveNovember 24, 2020thanksgivingComment

Substance of Nature

Wow, what a day! I started with a morning kayaking trip, then the afternoon took my breath away after seeing “Fabienne Verdier - Sur Les Terres de Cézanne” exhibition at the Musée Granet in Aix-en-Provence. Her spirit captured me. Sometimes everything in the day just falls into place, one action after another giving a sense of purpose.

Vulnerability and Strength

Life changes create new ideas and new work. I had a lot of life changes in 2018. These works reflect those changes. I decided to share the process I went through to develop this highly personal body of work. They will be exhibited in Washington DC at Susan Calloway Fine Art in Georgetown. Opening Reception is May 4th.

Aerial View

In France this past summer, I experienced flying in an two person airplane. When my family friend invited me up, I said “yes” without hesitation, but knew I was going to have to face my fears since I’m claustrophobic.

Facing my fears was something I was going through in my own personal life. After a break up with a life partner and living in France in which I struggled communicating, I had a weight in my gut every morning that I didn’t know how to get rid of. These insecurities slowly tore away at me. I felt beholden to my own fears.

Studio Blog Posts