Deconstruction | Acrylic paint on plywood | Mixed media on canvas 78cm x 71cm
Karen Stewart
Karen Stewart (b. 1970) is a contemporary artist and curator living and working in Cape Town.
She creates non-representational paintings and paper collages by tearing and drawing into the artworks to create a layered and rich surface and she sculpts in clay, a magical material that connects her to the earth. She is a hard-edge painter – finding meditation and focus when she paints her edges.
Her art explores what heals, nurtures and provides sanctuary from our chaotic world. She has a M PHIL in Fine Arts from the University of Stellenbosch.
The artist has had works included on Turbine Art Fair in Johannesburg (2019) and the Lagos Biennale (2019). She has exhibited in solo and group shows in Johannesburg, Lagos, Helsinki and Cape Town and her work is included in prestigious private and corporate collections. Her work has been featured in publications such as Art South Africa, Creative Feel, Design News, VISI, Habitat and Garden and Home. She received an honourable mention at the Volskas Atelier Awards.
Education
2007 MPhil (Fine Art). University of Stellenbosch. South Africa.
1990 Graphic Design Certificate. Johannesburg Art Foundation.
1989 BA (Fine Art). University of Witwatersrand. Johannesburg.
1987 Matric. St Dominic’s Convent. Boxburg, South Africa.
Solo Exhibitions
2025 The Joy Project. WORLDART. Cape Town.
2019 The Anxiolytic Effect. Candice Berman Gallery. Johannesburg.
2007 Opening the Curiosity Box. National Library of South Africa. Cape Town.
Group Exhibitions
2025 Spier Contemporary Ceramics Winter Show. Spier Arts Trust. Stellenbosch.
Brave New World. Graham Contemporary. Johannesburg.
2024 New gallery space opening exhibition. WORLDART. Cape Town.
Ceramics SA Regional Exhibition. Spin Street Gallery. Cape Town.
Got Junk Vol 4? The Fourth Gallery. Cape Town.
2023 Ceramics SA Regional Exhibition. Spin Street Gallery. Cape Town.
Maker’s Mark Ceramics Exhibition. Hangklip Library. Kleinmond.
2021 Art on Paper XII. Kalkbay Modern. Cape Town.
2020 Art is Where the Home is. Zeitz Mocaa. Cape Town.
2019 Lagos Biennial 2. Àkéte Art Foundation. Lagos.
#ArtLadies. Berman Contemporary. Johannesburg
The Anxiolytic Effect. RMB Turbine Art Fair. Johannesburg.
New Blood. Art@first Association. Sandton.
Works on Paper X. Kalk Bay Modern. Cape Town.
2007 Greenhouse – from Painting to Plastic. Bell-Roberts Gallery. Stellenbosch.
Small Spaces Big Places. US Gallery. Stellenbosch.
2006 The Collage Show. WHATIFTHEWORLD. Cape Town.
2004 Far and Wide. ABSA Gallery. Johannesburg.
For the record/Off the record. Thomson Gallery. Johannesburg.
2003 YDEsire 4th Softserve Party. Castle of Good Hope. Cape Town.
2001 South Africa Today. Helsinki Convention Centre. Helsinki.
1997 Volkskas Atelier Awards Exhibition. (Hon Mention). Bloemfontein.
EurovirusB4/97. Carfax Gallery. Johannesburg.