KAREN AMY FINKEL FISHOF
CONTEMPORARY ARTIST
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BIO - Karen Amy Finkel Fishof
Karen Amy Finkel Fishof is a New York born, Los Angeles based contemporary artist. Her works bridge formal training with her own epiphanies and lived experience. Karen’s distinctive and bold aesthetic is unmistakably hers. Leveraging the silhouette as a powerful tool of communication, she challenges conventional norms in pictorial production inviting viewers to examine their perspectives in black and white. Her unorthodox use of materials frees photography from the rigidity of the past, informing the ongoing reconstruction of art history. Upon encountering her work, one is immediately confronted with the proportion of human scale. Karen masterfully manipulates the mechanics of the human body against gravity and light, resulting in images that unveil intricate details like bone structure, hair, and clothing that can only be revealed through her unconventional process. Figures take on new dimensionally as she transforms three-dimensional humans into two-dimensional light impressions while retaining their sculptural essence.
Hailing from the Bronx, NY, Karen earned a BFA in painting from Syracuse University and honed her craft at St. Martins School of Art in London, UK. There, she ventured into creating photograms under the tutelage of the very professors who mentored the renowned Gilbert and George. She exhibited her work at Cambridge University and Manhattan, New York, marking the beginning of a journey that transcends conventional artistic boundaries.
Beyond the realms of academia, Karen's artistic prowess extended into various diverse endeavors, from shaping captivating window displays for retail giants like Macy’s, Lord & Taylor, and Dress Barn Stores to playing an instrumental role in the visual merchandising of major music labels such as Sony, BMG, Universal, and Warner and crafting backdrops for celebrity appearances. A second degree in Graphic Design further enriched her creative arsenal allowing her to produce album art for Ringo Starr of the Beatles. Notably, Karen fashioned licensed products for major brands, including Kraft Foods, Simon Malls, Crayola, Nickelodeon, Imax, Cartoon Network, and Gameboy.
Her compositions, marked by ingenuity, weave narratives laden with personal statements that resonate with audacity, often politically charged recounting her female experience and life transforming journey. Meticulous posing and strategic object placement unveil a mastery of technique and dialogue. We cannot help but form a human connection with the humanity we are facing.
Exhibiting widely at prestigious venues such as The Griffin Museum of Photography, The Fisher Museum of Art at UCLA, The San Diego Museum of Art, and The Orange County Center For Contemporary Art, Karen's large-scale works champion the contemporary moment. Her art deliberately tests the limits of legibility, challenging viewers with unexpected aesthetic and thematic constructs. Notably, her work has been featured at events like PhotoLA, The LA Art Show, and PULSE Art Fair, solidifying her impact on the art scene. Karen’s work has never been more relevant.
“The bold work of Karen Amy Finkel Fishof is certainly a product of our times.”
- TOM TEICHOLZ - Forbes Magazine
“Karen’s work not only grabs one's attention but holds it.”
- EDWARD GOLDMAN - ART CRITIC, NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO & HUFFINGTON POST
“Karen’s entire body of artwork is extremely original.”
- PAMELA SCHOENBERG - OWNER dnj GALLERY