Karen Clarkson
Karen Clarkson is a registered Choctaw artist that has been presenting her views on Native art for over 25 years. Although she did not go to art school, she started her journey into the world of portrait art when her children left home. During her career her art has been shown through many venues. Some notable achievements include permanent Museum installations, Solo and Group art exhibits, and several book publications on technique. A milestone in her career was when Karen’s art was the cover of Native Art Magazine for the 100th anniversary of the Santa Fe Indian Market in 2022.
Karen is no stranger to Western art as well. For many years Karen has participated in the Phippen Museum Western Art Show in Prescott Arizona where she calls home. Her first major award was In 2005 when she won first place for her drawing at the Bosque Conservatory Arts Classic. During her time in Prescott, Karen has been active in preserving Western history by serving on the board of the Western Heritage Foundation and was instrumental in putting together a permanent exhibition on the Rough Riders.
Karen’s art has been covered extensively in Native News Online and has been featured in Southwest Art Magazine’s “Ten Artists to Watch” and “Celebrating Women Artists”, Cowboys and Indians photo review on the Autry Museum, Native American Arts “Who to Know”, and “Inside Access”, Phoenix Art Magazine “Exhibits Not to Miss”, Oklahoma Hall of Fame, “Ikbi”, Art of the Choctaw Nation, Santa Fe New Mexican “Artists tackle subject of Native Women Missing”, Fine Art Connoisseur “The Mosse Collection: Choctaw Railroad ”and Bird Conservation “Lessons from Indigenous Lifeways” as well as many local and regional publications.
Today Karen spends each day creating art in a converted bedroom of her house. You can find videos of work-in-progress on Instagram www.instagram.com/karenclarksonart. Some upcoming events include the March 2024 Heard Museum Indian Market in Phoenix where she will be the featured painter, and the Phippen Museum’s Miniature Masterpiece Sale and Auction in May 2024.
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