Karen Gray - Besties

My favourite subjects tend to be animal based. The animals become the characters in my art narratives, often symbolic of the struggles and experiences encountered through life's journey.

In 1995 I discovered the joy of clay. It was an instant “coming home” feeling that has never left me, the rigors of surface treatment and the firing of clay alighted a deep passion for ceramic work which resulted in me spending 9 years as a ceramic sculptor living in the rainforests of Bellingen.

My ceramic work is focused on hand building story telling. After painting scenes on vessels, I ventured into acrylic painting which complements my body of work offering the same sentiments but using a different methodology.

Both whimsical and humorous, I strive to capture an authentic voice in my sculptures and paintings. Whether hand building or painting I work with speed, allowing the natural, primal and instinctive surge of energy to infuse with my art.

The movement created with my bold brush strokes and strong clay making practice enhances the characters which come alive in my work, offering a combined vision that strength and fragility play equal parts in life.

I spent 6 years in the army as an Illustrator Reprographic before working as a jewellery designer, I have a varied art background including an honours in Anthropology which primarily feeds an insatiable inquisitiveness into the human condition and storytelling.

I live in a small creative town called Yackandandah, and feel most at home bunkered down in my art studio, rummaging through my mind and having creative conversations with my characters.