Karen Turner is an award winning figure and portrait artist whose oil paintings are a commentary on the weight of expectations. Focusing on the physical body and the scrutiny to which it is commonly subjected, her paintings explore what society expects of a woman, the ways in which a woman's shape is often considered to define her, and the impact that this has on her life and sense of self.
An examination of the inherent bias against, and at times discrimination of, fat bodies, Karen's work challenges the traditionally narrow view of who can be considered beautiful, as she sensitively presents her subjects in a way that both celebrates and normalises.
Born in London in 1978, Karen attended Hampstead Fine Arts College before going on to a career in the City. Since returning to art in 2020 she has been awarded the President's Prize by the Institute of East Anglian Artists, the Professional Artist Award by the Visual Artists Association and the Art Fluent Evolution Grant.
Karen exhibits with The Other Art Fair in London, and in 2022 was included amongst the Fair Director's Picks. In the same year she was invited to participate in one of Art on a Postcard's celebrated auctions, and more recently she was approached by fashion and fine art photographers Inez and Vinoodh to join Double Dutch. An online charity gifting platform, her work features alongside the likes of Cindy Sherman, Gary Hume, Es Devlin and Lady Gaga.
In August of 2023 Karen was selected as one of 12 Dubel Prize Finalists. Devised to recognise emerging British artists, the Dubel Prize provides each of its Finalists with a solo event in London, and the opportunity to spend 12 months working with Red Eight Gallery.
Media
2023
BBC Radio Norfolk
Bizarre Beautiful Magazine, 10 Year Anniversary Issue
Women United Magazine, Issue 3
Art Plugged, February
Create Magazine, Issue 34
Women United Magazine, Special Edition
2022
Arts to Hearts Magazine, Issue 1
Women United Magazine, Issue 2
Modern Renaissance Magazine, September
Women United Art Podcast, July
The Huts Magazine, Issue 5
The Ministry of Arts Podcast
Absolutely Magazine, March
Places & Faces Magazine, March
London x London, February
Create Magazine, Five Year Anniverary Issue
Norfolk Magazine, January
Folk Features, January
2021
All She Makes Magazine, Fall
Art Seen, Autumn / Winter
2020
Portraits for NHS Heroes, Bloomsbury Publishing
The Artful Podcast
"The most incredible, in your face, bare (figuratively and literally,) honest view of beauty of the traditional female form that I have witnessed in a long time." Abbey Art Collective
Awards
2023
Dubel Emerging Artist of the Year Prize, Finalist
Beautiful Bizarre Art Prize, Finalist
Boynes Monthly Art Award, Winner
Arts to Hearts Emerging Woman Artist Award, Shortlisted
The VAA International Exhibition and Scholarship Prize, Shortlisted
Women in Art Prize, Longlisted
2022
VAA Professional Artist Award, Winner
Art Fluent Evolution Grant, Winner
Women United Art Prize, Finalist
Theo Paphitis Art Prize, Finalist
The Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painter Prize, Shortlisted
The New Emergence Art Prize, Shortlisted
International FiKVA Award, Longlisted
Visual Art Open, Longlisted
2021
The Institute of East Anglian Artists President's Prize, Winner
The Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painter Prize, Finalist
Women United Art Prize, Shortlisted, Special Mention
Selected Exhibitions
2023
Reactions: Society, Surroundings and Self, Fairhurst Gallery, Norwich
The New Face of Portraiture, Cromer Artspace, Norfolk
Sanctuary, The Leper Chapel, Cambridge
The Other Art Fair, London
2022
Art Fair East, Norwich, Norfolk
Art on a Postcard - mini auction in collaboration with gowithYamo
The Holly Bush Emerging Woman Painter Prize Exhibition
Perfect Imperfection - online exhibtion with Women United Art Movement
The Shape of Us, Masham Gallery, North Yorkshire
The Weight of Expectations, online solo show with Women United Art Movement
The Other Art Fair, London
Raising the Bar, auction with Women in Art
2021
Art Fair East, Norwich, Norfolk
Gaze - online exhibition with Arts to Hearts Project and All She Makes
The Marks We Make - online exhibition with The Curator's Salon
The Institute of East Anglian Artists Open Exhibition, Holt, Norfolk
The Absent Gallery Spring Open, Online
2020
Healthcare Heroes, Portraits for NHS Heroes, online