Karen Banker / Artist

Artist’s Statement

I am passionate about the existence and mystery of the human soul and our lifelong journey back to true self. My work is about awareness, self-discovery, and our journeys inward. It is about the layers that lie beneath our physical exteriors, beneath the surface of conversations, thoughts and ideas. Through my art, questions are raised. Some are fun to explore; others more challenging, but with each answer we take a step closer to authentic self.

My most recent work explores the resilience of the human spirit during times of adversity, economic hardship and illness.

Biography

Born in Wisconsin and raised in a small town in the open fields of rural west central Ohio, Karen Banker grew up in a family of art and medicine. As a young girl she was fascinated by the colors of the growing crops in the rural countryside and the amazing sunsets she observed nightly from her family’s dinner table. Early on, she was aware of her love of art and in 1976 while in seventh grade, she won first place in the school’s Christmas art contest by painting an altered rendition of A. M. Willard’s “The Spirit of ‘76” by replacing the middle drummer with Santa Claus. She knew then that art was within her and art would be her passion.

A notable, pivotal point in Banker’s life occurred in her early 20’s while climbing a mountain in the Wind River Range in central Wyoming. Upon reaching the peak above the tundra, she sat alone at the top to contemplate life. It was there that she recognized the microscopic presence of her physical being, yet the enormous impact and power of her soul and spirit. Moved by her experience she was compelled to explore the purpose of human existence, both scientifically and spiritually, as a life long quest.

To this day, Banker searches for the deeper meaning of life. Beneath the surface she delves and attempts to initiate self-exploration in others. Through her art she attempts to ignite memories and linked emotions from the viewers of her art. When successful, awareness is raised, and it is Banker’s hope that it sparks an action by others to live a fuller, more meaningful life. Through the years Banker has found that those who are open to self discovery are those who connect most powerfully with her vibrantly colored and multi-layered work. The artist can often be seen listening to admirers of her work as they share their deepest secrets evoked by her spiritual paintings.

Working primarily in acrylics and mixed media, Banker’s art has been exhibited in multiple solo and group shows in fine art galleries across the United States as well as internationally including most recently at the Colorida Galleria de Arte in Lisbon, Portugal. In addition, her work has been exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art in Miami, Florida, and can be found in numerous private collections across the country.

She prefers to work on “large canvases that provide the space to move thoughts and emotions around so they can develop and intertwine and ultimately form a platform for self-discovery”. She works in her private studio located in Lincolnton, North Carolina, and lives in a small hamlet called Pumpkin Center in rural Lincoln County near the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains. She and her husband live on five and a half acres of wooded land, complete with walking trails, streams and room to breathe.