Qualia 1123 | 2019, acrylic on canvas, 40" x 40" x 1.5"
Qualia 3819 | 2019, acrylic on canvas, 40" x 40" x 1.5"
Qualia 3320 | 2019, acrylic on canvas, 40" x 40" x 1.5"
Qualia 5719 | 2019, acrylic on canvas, 40" x 40" x 1.5"
Qualia 1023 | 2018, acrylic on canvas, 48" x 48" x 1.5"
Qualia 721 | 2018, acrylic on canvas, 48" x 48" x 1.5"
Qualia 1031 | 2017, acrylic on canvas, 48” x 48” x 1.5”
Qualia 715 | 2017, acrylic on canvas, 36" x 36" x 1.5"
Qualia 404 | 2018, acrylic on canvas, 36" x 36" x 1.5"
Qualia 403 | 2018, acrylic on canvas, 36" x 36" x 1.5"
Qualia 463 | 2017, acrylic on canvas, 36” x 36” x 1.5”
Qualia 487 | 2017, acrylic on canvas, 36” x 36” x 1.5”
Qualia 215 | 2017, acrylic on canvas, 48” x 48” x 1.5”
Qualia 114 | 2017, acrylic on canvas, 24" x 24" x 1.5"
Qualia 314 | 2017, acrylic on canvas, 24” x 24” x 1.5”
No items found.
X
No items found.
X
No items found.
X
No items found.
X
No items found.
X
No items found.
X
No items found.
X

Member Portfolio

Karen Freedman

Résumé

Artist Statement

Qualia, a term used in philosophy, refers to the subjective or qualitative properties of experiences. In other words, qualia are the attributes of something—its feel or appearance rather than the thing itself.
My series, "Qualia", is rooted in that ideology—an acknowledgement that no two people will experience my paintings in the same way. It is also a continuation of my exploration of visual perception and cognition through the interaction of color within the confines of symmetrical patterning.
Color is not static. Its appearance is modified by its relationship to other colors. I use that effect to challenge the predictability inherent in patterns through the juxtaposition and modulation of value and hue. The objective term for this effect is simultaneous contrast; the subjective phenomenon is qualia.

Artist Biography

Karen Freedman is recognized for her vibrant abstract geometric paintings that explore the interaction of color and its ability to alter perception. She began her formal art training studying jewelry design at The University of the Arts in Philadelphia and graphic design at the Tyler School of Art. Ms. Freedman then went on to build a successful graphic design business followed by her immersion in the fine arts.
Ms. Freedman has exhibited both locally and nationally at venues that include Cape Cod Museum of Art, Endicott College, Hunterdon Art Museum, The Gallery at Penn State Great Valley, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Art Center Sarasota, Kimball Art Center, and the George Segal Gallery, Montclair State University. Her paintings are included in the permanent collections at Park Towne Place Premier Apartments, and Temple University’s Howard Gittis Student Center. Ms Freedman’s work is featured in the books "Encaustic With a Textile Sensibility" by Daniella Woolf, "Encaustic Art (Art of the Century)" by Jennifer Margell, and "Encaustic Art in the Twenty-First Century" by Anne Lee & E. Ashley Rooney, as well as numerous exhibition catalogs.

Education

2002 - Present
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
1977
Tyler School of Art, Elkins Park, PA
1973
The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA

Bibliography

2018
"Organic to Geometric, Investigations in Structure and Surface", Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Provincetown, MA
Exhibition Catalog
2017
Krysa, Danielle, "Karen Freedman," The Jealous Curator, January 5, 2017
2016
Lee, Anne and Rooney, E. Ashley, Encaustic Art in the Twenty-First Century, Schiffer Publishing, 2016
2015
"Pattern: Geometric |Organic," exhibition catalog published by Space Gallery, Denver, CO, magcloud.com
Winiarski, Deborah, "Off the Grid...," ProWax Journal, Issue 10, July 30
"Organic to Geometric, Investigations in Structure and Surface," Endicott College, Beverly, MA, Exhibition Catalog, magcloud.com
2014
"Swept Away: Translucence, Transparence, Transcendence in Contemporary Encaustic," Hunterdon Art Museum, Exhibition Catalog
Studio Visit Magazine, Volume 23, Open Studio Press, Boston, MA, Winter 2014
Juror: Barbara O' Brien
2013
Rothman, Marybeth, "Three Days, Two Exhibitions, One Studio Visit," Marybeth Rothman Studio Blog, September
Mattera, Joanne, "Following Up, Part 3: 'Swept Away'," Joanne Mattera Art Blog, September 15
Shaw, Kurt, "James Gallery Collection Reveals Complex Works Painted With Wax," Pittsburgh Tribune Review, December 5
Edward, Brian, "Review – Obscure/Reveal, James Gallery," ‘Burgh Vivant, Pittsburgh, PA, December 2
Otterbein, Holly, "First Friday Focus," City Paper, Philadelphia, PA, October 31
Martina, J. Fatima, "Swept Away: Translucence, Transparence, Transcendence in Contemporary Encaustic," Artscope, May-June, 2013, p. 11
"‘Swept away’ by encaustic at Cape Cod Museum of Art, Translucence, Transparence, Transcendence," Wicked Local Dennis, Dennis, MA, May 26
Barr, Adam, "To Be Art, And Not Fade Away," Brains Splattered on the Keyboard Blog, February 13
Belto, Michelle, "In the Encaustic Studio, Advanced Mixed Media Techniques," North Light DVD
2012
Sullivan, Patricia, "Karen Freedman’s Decorative 'Musings'," Art Does Matter Blog, August 12
2011
Mattera, Joanne, "Romboid Rumba," Joanne Mattera Art Blog, May 11
2010
Haggard, Lynette, "Karen Freedman: Artist Interview," Lynette Haggard Art Blog, July 26
2009
Duckett, William, "Tangible Wax," Art Examiner, Chicago, IL
2008
"Beautiful Abstract Paintings by Encaustic Painter Karen Freedman," Empty Easel Blog, August 29

Publications
2018
Organic to Geometric, Investigations in Structure and Surface, Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Provincetown, MA, Exhibition Catalog 2018, magcloud.com
2015
Pattern Geometric |Organic, exhibition catalog published by Space Gallery, Denver, CO
Organic to Geometric: Investigations in Surface and Structure, Heftler Gallery, Endicott College, Beverly, MA
Introduction by curator Carol Pelletier
2013
Swept Away: Translucence, Transparence, Transcendence in Contemporary Encaustic, Exhibition Catalog, Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton, NJ
Swept Away: Translucence, Transparence, Transcendence in Contemporary Encaustic, Exhibition Catalog, Cape Cod Museum of Art, Dennis, MA
Belto, Michelle, In the Encaustic Studio DVD, North Light Media and ArtistsNetwork.tv Production, 2013
Margell, Jennifer, Encaustic Art (Art of the Century), Parkstone Press, New York, NY, 2013
2010
Woolf, Daniella, Encaustic With a Textile Sensibility, Waxy Buildup Press, Santa Cruz, CA
2009
Prime, Exhibition Catalog, James Oliver Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Encaustic Works ‘09, Exhibition Catalog

Collection

Insaco Inc, Quakertown, PA
Michael Gerald Ltd., New York City, NY
Park Towne Place Premier Apartments, Philadelphia, PA
Philadelphia Energy Solutions, Philadelphia, PA
Temple University, Howard Gittis Student Center, Philadelphia, PA
The Goldenberg Group, Blue Bell, PA
Various private collections

Affiliation

Space Gallery, Denver, CO
The Center for Emerging Visual Artists

Exhibitions

Solo
2019
Waxing Lyrical, Space Gallery, Denver, CO
Art in the Storefront, Ambler, PA

Group
2019
Momentum, Space ANNEX, Wayne, PA
2018
Geometry in Color, Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA
2018 Juried Show, Abington Art Center, Abington, PA
Organic to Geometric, Investigations in Structure and Surface, Provincetown Art Association and Museum, Provincetown, MA
2017
Depth Perception, Cape Cod Museum of Art, Dennis, MA
Cerulean Arts Invitational, Cerulean Arts, Philadelphia, PA
2016
The Best of 2016, Space Gallery, Denver, CO
Encaustic Art in the Twenty-first Century Book Signing and Group Exhibition, Galer Estate Vineyard & Winery, Kennett Square, PA
2015
MathThematic: A Fine Art Exhibition, Esther Klein Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Patterns, The Art Trust at Meridian Bank, West Chester, PA
Group Exhibit, Schoolhouse Gallery, Cape Cod, MA
Minimal/Maximum, Ninth International Encaustic Conference, Truro Center for the Arts, Cape Cod, MA
Pattern: Geometric | Organic, Space Gallery, Denver, CO
Organic to Geometric: Investigations in Structure and Surface, Heftler Visiting Artist Gallery, Endicott College, Beverly, MA
Curated by Carol Pelletier
2014
RSVP 2014, LG Tripp Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Swept Away: Translucence, Transparence, Transcendence in Contemporary Encaustic, Hunterdon Art Museum, Clinton NJ
2013
Obscure/Reveal, James Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA
Reverberance, Cerulean Arts Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Swept Away: Translucence, Transparence, Transcendence in Contemporary Encaustic, Cape Cod Museum of Art, Dennis, MA
Cumulative Force, The Gallery at R&F, Kingston, NY
Symmetry, Joseph & Marilyn Henry Gallery, Penn State Great Valley, Malvern, PA
2012
Art of the State: Pennsylvania 2012, The State Museum of Pennsylvania, Harrisburg, PA
2012 Muse Invitational, Muse Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2011
WOW!: Women & Wax, Art Center Sarasota, Sarasota, FL
Encaustic With a Textile Sensibility, Kimball Art Center, Park City, UT
Beeline, Fifth International Encaustic Conference, Kobalt Gallery, Provincetown, MA
Rhomboid Rumba, Joanne Mattera Art Blog
2010
Sirius Art, Muse Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Best Foot Forward, Fourth Annual Encaustic Painting Conference at Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA
Juror: Joanne Mattera
2009
Prime, James Oliver Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Artist of the Month, R&F Handmade Paints, Kingston, NY
Encaustic Works ‘09, sponsored by R&F Paints, Castle Gallery at the College of New Rochelle, New Rochelle, NY
Juror: Heather Hutchinson
Tangible Wax, Prairie State College Christopher Art Gallery, Chicago Heights, IL
Art Connections 5, George Segal Gallery, Montclair State University, Montclair, NJ
Juror: Patricia G. Selden
2008
Betsy Meyer Memorial Exhibition, Main Line Art Center, Haverford, PA
Juror: William Pym
Carano Gallery, Inaugural Exhibition, Carano Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
On the Edge, Second National Encaustic Painting Conference at Montserrat College of Art, Beverly, MA
Juror: Laura Moriarty
66th Annual Awards Painting Exhibit, Cheltenham Arts Center, Cheltenham, PA
Juror: Doug Pascall
2007
2nd Annual Juried Group Exhibition, Schuylkill Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Textures, Schuylkill Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2006
Absolutely Abstract Juried Exhibition, The Philadelphia Sketch Club, Philadelphia, PA
Juror: Moe Brooker
smARTS Juried Group Show, Philadelphia, PA
2005
The American Juried Art Salon, Dallas, TX
Artists at the Mills, Crafts for Living Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
2003
63rd Annual Juried Exhibition, Woodmere Art Museum, Philadelphia, PA
Previous
This is the start of the list
Next
This is the end of the list