Manhattan Arts International Features Karen Bognar Khan
Expressing A Unique Vision of Contemporary Realism
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Karen Bognar Khan, karenbognarkhanpaintings.com, brings innovation and imagination to the realm of Contemporary Realism in which she fuses elements of realism with surrealism. Her unique artistic vision has been influenced by her personal evolution and inspired by quantum physics.
Karen lives in the famous “Blue Heaven Farm” in Massachusetts.
Night Vigil Two, acrylic, 36″ x 36″.
The creative spark was lit when she began “to rethink the parameters of what Contemporary Realism can be and started to congeal a unique personal vision.”
Incandescence, pencil on paper, 28″ x 40″
Karen is skillful in orchestrating the juxtaposition of what may appear at first like disparate objects that automatically transport the viewer to believable worlds of mystery and enchantment. She achieves her objective, “to paint energy moving through form and space in visually complex ways in order to expand both, the perception of the artist and the viewer.”
Arriving at Orion, acrylic, 28″ x 36″
She explains, “A still life is a world of its own; however, detail has the power to deconstruct reality as well. A reality the viewer may get lost in or find the detail as a focus.”
REM’s, pencil on paper, 28″ x 48″.
Karen graduated with a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University where she studied painting and sculpture. After graduation she moved to NYC, NY where she found her true artistic direction. She attended The Parsons School of Design and pursued illustration, which contributed to her skillful and scrupulous attention to narration and detail.
Magellanic Cloud, acrylic, 28″ x 36″
When setting up a still life, Karen explains, “I begin to disconnect any prejudice or sociological context that an object implies… Everyday objects are pure form, color and texture and are divided into geometric, and/or man-made or biomorphic shapes. All these objects are thought of in an abstract way but are still painted in a detailed realistic style.”
She adds, “Space is often created with mirrors and hanging or floating objects. Gravity is not an accepted given.” A painting may eliminate the ground plane or be composed of reflections of objects and not the objects themselves.
Karen has had exhibitions in Massachusetts at The Welles Gallery, The Art Walk, Cranwell Resort, and other venues. She has completed numerous commissions both as a fine artist, and muralist painter with multiple projects designed by her former company, Universal Murals in Pittsburgh, PA. She also discovered a love of teaching by leading several children’s mural painting projects and became a certified art teacher.
She is a member of IGOR (International Guild of Realism), AWA (The Association of Women Artists), and The Berkshire Artists Guild.
Visit Karen Bognar Khan’s Website karenbognarkhanpaintings.com
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Renee Phillips
Renée Phillips is the Founder/Director/Editor of Manhattan Arts International. Visit About to learn more.