BIO & c.v
BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Karen Fike (1969, New York) is a Chicago-based visual artist with a Bachelor of Fine Arts, Cum Laude, in theater and scenic art from the University of Texas at Arlington.
As an emerging artist, she is impacting the art scene with her acrylic mixed-media paintings, which concentrate on figurative abstractions of women. Her work captures the elusive beauty of life's fragments and conveys women's strength and grace. She captures moments in her artwork with materials like flash glazes and textured mediums, creating dynamics in the paintings that take on their own life. As the light and angles change, the elements appear and disappear, resulting in a "living" work of art.
In 2023, Fike's artwork was featured in prestigious exhibitions by Artbox. Project's New York Art Expo in Manhattan, EuroAirport Basel 2.0 in Basel-Mulhouse, Switzerland, and Swiss Art Expo 5.0 in Zurich, Switzerland. She has also exhibited her artwork in respected galleries such as the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art in Wisconsin, 116 Gallery in St. Charles, Illinois, and the Woman Made Gallery in Chicago.
"Rocking Love and Hope in Joliet" is an 8-foot guitar sculpture she created in 2023 for the Ready to Rock Festival in Joliet. Her guitar is on display in front of the Joliet Historical Museum.
In addition to her artistic endeavors, Karen is an ardent advocate for women's rights. Her art serves as a platform to raise awareness and funds for organizations such as Planned Parenthood. Notably, she created a live painting, “You Don’t Own Me,” at the PPIL Political Winter Fundraiser, chaired by Illinois Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin.
The magazines ArtsyShark and SuboArt have both featured her work. She is represented by 33 Contemporary in Chicago and Influx Gallery in London.
Fike is a member of the Evanston Arts Council, the Chicago Alliance of Visual Artists, and the Woman Made Gallery, demonstrating her commitment to the artistic community.
Beneath the aesthetic allure, Karen’s art carries a strong message of empowerment and advocacy. She contributes to the ongoing discourse surrounding gender equality and women's rights, inviting viewers to contemplate the challenges, triumphs, and complexities of women's experiences. Her overarching aspiration is to effect meaningful change while championing women's rights and contributing to a more inclusive and equitable world.
CURRICULUM VITAE
Karen Fike
Emerging Artist
(b.1969, New York, USA)
Lives and works in Chicago, IL
karen@karenfikeart.com | karenfikeart.com
773.710.9556
EDUCATION
University of Texas, Arlington
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Cum Laude 1992
PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS
Evanston Art's Council Chicago Alliance of Visual Arts Chicago Artist Coalition
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Scenic Artist & Visual Artist 1987-Present
PHILANTHROPY
DIFFA-ART FOR LIFE CHICAGO
2023 “F*cking Fabulous” Donation Painting. Nationally renowned jurists Amy Kartheiser, principal, Amy Kartheiser Design, and Peter Gahan, curator and owner, Detroit Art Specialists
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2024 “Awakening Earth, Narratives of Spring”, Sergio Gomez, curator, ZhouB Art Center, Chicago
2024 “Preposterous, The Absurdity of Dada”, Juried Group Exhibition, 116 Gallery, St. . Charles, IL
2023 “Chromatic Convergence: Exploring the Essence of Color,” Sergio Gomez, curator, ZhouB Art Center, Chicago
2023 “Rhythm, Color, and Movement: Seeing the Music,” Juried, 116 Gallery, St. Charles, IL
2023 Sixth Midwest Open, Kimberly Oliva, curator, Woman-Made Gallery, Chicago
2023 Artbox.Projects Zurich 5.0 Swiss Art Expo, Juried, Zurich, Switzerland
2023 Artbox.Project's Basel 2.0, Juried, Basel-Mulhouse, Switzerland
2023 Artbox.Project's New York Art Expo 2.0, Juried, Manhattan, NY
2023 "Odyssey" Juried Virtual Exhibit, Influx Gallery, Notting Hill, London
2023 "Unbroken" Juried, 116 Gallery, St. Charles, IL
2023 Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art's 6th Annual National Juried Exhibition
2023 "Roe 2.0-It Ain't Over Yet," Juried, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, IL
2023 "The Artistry of Beauty," Juried, 116 Gallery, St. Charles, IL 2022
LIVE PAINTING
2023 "Fighting Forward, Freedom for Every Body," Planned Parenthood Illinois Political Winter Fundraiser, Co-Chairs Illinois Senators Tammy Duckworth and Dick Durbin
PUBLIC ART
2023 "Rocking Love and Hope in Joliet," 8-foot Painted Guitar Sculpture, Ready2Rock Joliet Public Art Exhibit. Location at the entrance of Joliet Historical Museum.
PUBLICATIONS
2023 2-Page Artist Feature, Suboart Magazine
2023 "You Don't Own Me" Artsy Shark Artist Showcase
2023 "No Apologies" featured in ArtsyShark Artist Showcase
PRIVATE COLLECTIONS
New York, New York
Private Collection Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Private Collection Maui, Hawaii
Private Collection Galveston, Texas
FEATURED WORKS
33 Contemporary, Chicago, IL, USA
Influx Gallery, Nottinghill, London, UK