Contemporary Painter

Studio Blog Posts

Studio Blog which includes news, paintings in progress, personal statements, and any other updates about Karen Silve.

Posts in exhibition
Pathways: Rediscovering my Roots

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. 

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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.

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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.

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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!

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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.

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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!

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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.

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Solo show - and Art New York This Weekend!

Here are some photos of my exhibition, Conversations, at CYNTHIA-REEVES in Walpole. The show goes through May 26th. If you are in Walpole, or close by, I hope you can stop in.

Also, I'm happy to share with you that CYNTHIA-REEVES will take three of my paintings to Art New York this weekend!  It's on Pier 94, 711 12th Avenue, NY. She will be at booth ANY301. Click here for some information

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"Women Painters" opens April 8th at the Madison Gallery

My Paintings will be on view at the Madison Gallery! Press Release below.

Madison Gallery presents Women Painters a group exhibition featuring the work of abstract artists: Jane Booth, Mel Davis and Karen Silve. Throughout art history many women artist were encouraged to divorce art practice from female experience and self-awareness in order to succeed professionally. This shifted in the twentieth century, as women became an integral part of society and female artists found their space within male-centric art movements, most importantly, Abstract Expressionism. Abstraction became the vehicle in which gender became obsolete, as it centered on movement, color and emotion. The exhibition strives to combat the oft-repeated and false compliment unthinkingly paid to women, that genius has no sex; there may be equality of power, but in its quality and application there will be and must be, difference and distinction.

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