100 Artworks for a Koala entry by Karen Bloomfield Title: ‘Little Bear’ – charcoal and ink on plywood.
Karen BLOOMFIELD
International artist based on the Central Coast of New South Wales, Australia. Working in oils, charcoal & ink.
100 Artworks for a Koala entry: Title: ‘Little Bear‘.
Size: W 64cm x H 64cm including shadowbox frame | Medium: charcoal & ink on plywood
My work always pays homage to the individual; their personality, emotion and character. Just like a ‘human’ portrait, I believe that every animal portrait is unique and special. I created Little Bear to remind us of the individuality of each of these beautiful animals, of all animals in fact, and that each individual has a right to live a life unencumbered.” Karen Bloomfield
Artist statement | bio
Artist statement
“I believe that my role as an artist is to capture & preserve society in this very moment & to garnish this moment with my own filters, wit, emotions & beliefs.
It is in this way I share my vision of how I perceive that simple, mundane, ugly & unexpected things may be viewed to be beautiful or, at the very least, engaging. It is my desire to encourage the growth that comes from seeing more than one viewpoint – in everything.”
With 2 artworks in the collection of the Australian Embassy in Kabul, Bloomfield is one of a select group of Australian artists chosen to represent Australian Art in International Embassies. Bloomfield, President of the Australian Society of Marine Artists and Exhibiting Artist with the Royal Art Society of NSW, is regularly exhibited in some of Australia’s most prestigious art awards.
Represented in several East Coast galleries, Bloomfield has created a brand for herself through two distinctive mediums: Industrial oil paintings; and Australian Wildlife in charcoal & ink.Bloomfield’s recent works have melded the styles to create the exciting ‘Industrial Reductionist Pop’ genre. Bloomfield’s highly coveted work graces collections throughout Australia as well as Amsterdam, U.K., Ireland & Afghanistan. She celebrates her first appearance in the Hong Kong market in 2019 at the Asia Contemporary Art Fair.
Artist awards / commendations
Awards & Commendations (Select)
2019 Winner Australian Society of Marine Artists (ASMA) Presidents Medal
2019, 2018, 2016 Finalist Hunters Hill Art Prize
2019 Finalist Bayside (NSW) Art Award
2018 Finalist Fisher’s Ghost Art Awards
2018 Finalist Lethbridge 10 000 Small Scale Art Award
2018 Finalist The Blake Art Prize
2016 Finalist Portia Geach Memorial Award
2016 Finalist Paddington Art Prize
2014 Finalist St George Art Awards
2014 Finalist SHE
2013 Finalist Hornsby Art Prize
2011 2nd Place ArtTT, Art Toppling Tobacco
Artist exhibitions / collaborations / collections
Solo Exhibitions
2019 Well, I wasn’t expecting that!, Sydney Children’s Hospital, Randwick, NSW 2018 Wild at Heart, Mercure Kooindah, Wyong, NSW
2016 Juggernaut, Tortuga Studios, St. Peters, NSW
2015 Juggernaut, Art Studios Gallery, North Gosford, NSW
2015 Fauna, Fair & Free, Willoughby Council Chambers, Chatswood, NSW
2014 Incandescent, Art Studios Gallery, Nth Gosford & TAP Gallery, Darlinghurst, NSW 2013 Moments of Grace, Factory 5, Warriewood, NSW
2012 Virtues of Value, Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW
Selected / Invitation Only Exhibitions
2019, 2017, 2016 Australian Society of Marine Artists (ASMA)Exhibition, Royal Art Society, Lavender Bay, NSW 2018, 2017, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013 Art by the Sea, Killcare SLSC, Killcare Beach, NSW
2017 Hunters Hill Pop-up Program, Hunters Hill, NSW
2015 The Other Art Fair, Central Park, Sydney, NSW
Collaborations / Group Shows (Selected)
2018, 2017, 2016, 2015 Australian Spirit, Art Studios Cooperative & various locations, NSW & ACT 2017 Without Pier Gallery, Cheltenham, VIC. Group Show selected represented Artists.
2017 Every Individual Matters, Cre8tiv Gallery, St Leonards, Sydney
2016 Terraforma, Palm House Gallery, NSW Royal Botanic Gardens
2015 Animalia, Nanshe Studio Gallery, Hamilton, NSW
2015 Cohabitation, Palm House Gallery, NSW Royal Botanic Gardens 2012, 2011 Mental Health Art Works, Gosford Regional Gallery, NSW
Collections
NSW Police HQ, Protrait of Fr. Jim Boland, Beloved
Australian Consulate, Kabul; Driving Clarice & Don’t Make Me Come Back There!
Artist education / associations
Art Education
2014 Diploma Fine Art, Newcastle Art School, Ourimbah Campus
Professional Associations
Australian Society of Marine Artists Inc (ASMA), Exhibiting Member (2016 -); National Vice President (2019); Awarded Fellow Status 2020; President (2020 – ) NSW Royal Art Society; Exhibiting Member (2019 – ); Art Studios Cooperative (ASC) Founding Member (2013 – )
ASC Secretary (2018 – )
Artist contact
instagram: @karenbloomfield_art
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