Artist Statement
My art is inspired by the health of our community and health of the environment. I believe caring for our environment has a positive impact on our health as well as our planet.
Biography
Karen Benjamin is an eco-friendly artist who combines issues surrounding caring for the community with caring for our environment to produce thought provoking art. In the past ten years Karen has exhibited in over fifty exhibitions and has been in a finalist in the Contemporary Art Awards, Milburn Art Prize, Lethbridge 10,000 Small Scale Award and she has won The Australian Palliative Care Art Prize, St Stephen's Art Prize and The Nundah Neighbourhood Centre Art Prize.
Curriculum Vitae
Exhibitions
Ipswich City Council Sustainability Festival Trashion Parade2024- Second Place
Civic Centre - Beaudesert - 2024
Ipswich Art Awards - 2024
Ipswich Art Workshop Residency - 2024
BADCAP Scenic Rim Small Sculpture Prize Exhibition - Beaudesert - 2024
The Bookplate Art Project - Corinda Library - 2024
Paper Off Skin - Devonport Regional Gallery - 2022
Stitched Together - Logan Art Gallery - 2022
Worn Out - Old Museum Brisbane - 2022
Between The Tides - Scarborough - 2021
In Focus - Capalaba Gallery - 2021
Making Do - Redcliffe Museum - 2021
Jumpers and Jazz - Warwick Art Gallery - 2021
Art Happens - Fun-A-Day, California, USA - 2021
Art Pal Postcard Project - GAGOMA - 2020
Paper On Skin - Burnie Regional Gallery, Tasmania - Winner award-In honour of Pam and Neil Thorne sponsored by Janet de Boer OAM - 2020
Worn Out - Brisbane Square Library - 2020
Tiny Art Plinth Exhibition - Judith Wright Centre - 2019/2020
Warrior Women Exhibition - Impress Printmakers Studio and Gallery - 2020
Artbar - Favour Economy Sound Installation - Museum Of Contemporary Art Australia - Sydney 2019
Tiny Tree Cafe - Black Bird Blues - Solo Exhibition - 2019
Art From the Margins - Black Dog , Blue Butterflies - 2019
A Sense of Wonder - Contemporary Art Awards - 2019
In Focus - Redland Art Gallery - Capalaba- 2019
Worn Out!?! - Princess Theatre - 2019
Red Box - Redland Art Gallery - 2018
Tightrope Exhibition - Pine Rivers Art Gallery - 2018
Living Green Expo - Redland Indigiscape - 2018
Moreton Bay Regional Art Awards - Finalist - 2018
Paper On Skin Exhibition - Burnie Regional Art Gallery Tasmania - Finalist - 2018
WornOUT! - Princess Theatre - 2018
Black Dog, Blue Butterflies - Pine Rivers Art Gallery - 2018
Contemporary Art Awards Solo Exhibition - 2018
Indigi Day Out - Indigiscape - 2018
Eco Science Precinct Residency collaboration with Nadine Schmoll - 2018
Washed Ashore with Dr John Dahlsen, Tony Rice and Pormpuraaw Aboriginal Artists - Urban Paradise Gallery- 2018
Worn Out!?! - Reverse Garbage - 2017
Fruit Salad - Judith Wright Centre - 2017
Salvage:Recycle Art Competition - Brisbane City Council - Finalist - 2017
St Vincent's Private Hospital - Inside Out Exhibition - 2017
Lethbridge 10,000 Small Scale Award - Finalist - 2017
Nundah Art Show - 2017
Palliative Care Australia - Dying To Talk Exhibition - 1st Prize -2017
Mount Thompson Crematorium - Ars Moriendi The Beautiful Art Of Dying -2017
Eco Sciences Precinct - Science Meets Art - 2017
Qld Regional Art Awards - 2017
Redland City Museum - Solo Exhibition - 2016
Redland Performing Arts Complex - Solo Exhibition - 2016
Site Cafe - Solo Exhibition - 2016
Pine Rivers Art Gallery (Window) - Solo Exhibition - 2016
Contemporary Art Awards - Finalist - 2016
COSSAG Art Awards - 1st Prize - 3D - 2016
Moreton Bay Regional Art Awards - Finalist 2016
Jumpers and Jazz Tree Exhibition - 2016
RNA (Ekka) Funky Wearable Art - Second Prize - 2016
Vital Signs - The Touring Exhibition Of The 2014 Qld Regional Art Awards - 2015 - 2016
Turning the Tide, Turtles and Marine Plastic - 2015
Capalaba Kids Early Learning Centre - 2015
Nundah Neighbourhood Centre Art Prize 2015 - 1st Prize
Lethbridge 10,000 Small Scale Art Award 2015 - Finalist
Jumpers and Jazz in July - Dress a Tree Exhibition - Warwick 2014, 2015
Cathedral of St Stephen, Francis Rush Centre, Brisbane 2014, 2015
Noosa Art Prize - 2014 - Finalist
Qld Museum -Science Week-Underwater Wanderlust - 2014
RNA(Ekka) Funky Wearable Art - Second Prize - 2014
Qld Regional Art Awards - Finalist - 2014
Moreton Bay Regional Art Awards - 2013, 2014 Finalist
Milburn Art Prize - Brisbane Institute of Art 2014 - Finalist
Australian Body Art Carnivale - Bendigo Bank Wearable Art Competition May 2014 - Finalist
Buzz Festival Cleveland -2013, 2014
Bag It - Scattered Arts 2013 - 1st Prize
RNA (Ekka) Funky Wearable Art 2013 - 1st Prize
RNA (Ekka) Funky Art 2013 - Commended
Animating Spaces (Ignite Festival) - 2013
Artist Workshops, Talks & Demonstrations
Ipswich Art Workshop -2024
Redland Art Gallery - 2024
Boona Cultural Centre - 2024
Fashion Re-image - Beaudesert Cultural Centre - 2024
Bellbird Park State Secondary College - 2024
Bellbird Park State Secondary College - 2023
Boona Organisation for a Sustainable Shire - 2023
LEAF (Logan Eco Action Festival Festival) - 2022
Logan Art Gallery - 2022
Art In The Olives - Kalbar - 2022
The Sewing Lair - 2022
Indigiscapes Capalaba - 2022
Indigiscapes Capalaba - 2021
Redland Coast Art Festival - 2021
Capalaba State College - 2021
Art Happens - California USA - 2021
Redland Art Gallery - 2020
Indigiscapes -2020
Older Women's Network - International Womens Day - 2020
Arts and Ecology Centre - Maroochy Regional Bushland Botanic Gardens - 2019
Landcare Thornside - 2019
Mount Tamborine Gardening Club - 2019
Redfest Strawberry Festival - Redland City - 2019
Arts Ablaze - Kooralbyn Resort - 2019
Redland Art Gallery - 2019
Capalaba State College - 2019
Moreton Bay Regional Libraries - 2018
Indigi Day Out - Indigiscape - 2018
Eco Science Precinct with Dutton Park Primary School - 2018
Redland Art Gallery - 2018
Living Green Expo - Indigiscape - 2018
San Sisto School - 2018
Redland Museum - 2017
Redland Art Gallery - 2017
Judith Wright Centre - 2017
Lyceum Club - 2017
ABC Radio 612 - 2017
Recycling Week - Redlands Indigiscape Centre - 2016
Redland Art Gallery - 2016
Indigiscapes Wonderful Wildlife Event - 2016
Brigidine College - 2016
Capalaba Kids Early Learning Centre - 2016
ABC Open - Plastic Fantastic Feature 2015 https://open.abc.net.au/explore/112844 https://vimeo.com/149114967
ABC Southern Queensland Radio - 2015
Music Health Australia - Moreton Bay Research Station 2015
Quandamooka Festival - Stradbroke Island 2015
Russell and McCleay Island Schools 2015
Capalaba Kids Early Learning Centre 2015
Russell Island August 2015
Eat Street Markets April 2015
Warwick Art Gallery July 2015
Buzz Festival 2013, 2014
Totally Wild TV Channel 11 2014 - Click here to see the video!
ABC Southern Queensland http://www.abc.net.au/local/photos/2014/07/23/4051916.htm#.U884yW-3P-Y.email
Village Creative 2014
Ignite Festival 2013
Publications
Textile Fibre Forum Magazine - 2021
Redland City Bulletin - 2020, 2021
Beaudesert Times - 2019
Weekend Notes - 2019
Slow Clothing (Finding meaning in what we wear) - 2018
Redland City Bulletin - 2018
Brisbane Times 2018
City South News 2017
Queensland Weekender 2017
Redland City Bulletin 2017
Redland City Bulletin - October, November 2016
Wynnum Herald - November 2016
Warwick Daily News - August 2016
Warwick Daily News - April 2015
Redland City Bulletin - March, August 2015
Sunday Mail - July 20 2014 p74 http://couriermail.newspaperdirect.com/epaper/viewer.aspx
Weekend Notes - June 2014 http://www.weekendnotes.com/village-creative/
Weekend Notes - March 19 2014 - http://www.weekendnotes.com/its-not-easy-being-green-art-exhibition-art-design-precinct/
Bayside Bulletin - June 4 2013 p9
Redland Times - August 2 2013 p6 - http://www.baysidebulletin.com.au/story/1676786/karens-funky-fashions-a-winner/