For over 25 years Karen Birnholz has been focusing on the exploration of cement as her medium.

While receiving her master’s degree in painting from New York University, her studies extended to Venice Italy, where when directed by a teacher to make her own paints, she was introduced to pure pigments in a little shop in Campo San Barnaba. The impact of seeing so much pure color in one place influenced her direction. She evolved from a figurative painter to an artist focused on color, which through time and evolution brought her to the use of cement as a medium.

The contradiction between the roughness of the material on one hand, and the refinement and sensation of pure color on the other, is what makes Birnholz’ paintings one of a kind.

Pushing its boundaries and embracing the challenges and strategies normally associated with painting, the artist has found her unique language.

The artist works both in NL and NY.

Her work is in private and corporate collections.

1993 M.A., New York University
(including studies with Jessica Stockholder, Michael St John, and Gerry Snyder)

1973 B.F.A., University of Miami
Additional studies; Art Students League and School of Visual Arts, NYC

2023
Galerie Mia Karlova, Collectables Fair / Brussels, Belgium

2022
Flower Art Museum, ‘Beyond Nature’ / Aalsmeer, the Netherlands
‘[Re-discoveries]’ group show / Amsterdam, the Netherlands

2021
Galerie Franzis Engels / Amsterdam, the Netherlands 

2021
Galerie Rive Gauche / Namur, Belgium 

2020
Art Depot, ‘Karen Birnholz and Jas’/ Bonheiden, Belgium

2019
Art Depot, ‘Summer show’ / Bonheiden, Belgium

2018
‘See All This’ / Haarlem, the Netherlands

2016
Galerie Rive Gauche / Namur, Belgium 

2014
de Groene Poort, ‘de Laatste’ / Middenbeemster, the Netherlands

2013
Galerie Franzis Engels, ‘Kunst is Kunst’ / Amsterdam, the Netherlands

2012
Club A. Projects @ Loods 6 / Amsterdam, the Netherlands
de Groene Poort / Middenbeemster, the Netherlands
Galerie Rive Gauche / Namur, Belgium 

2011
Art Depot, ‘Extended Summer’ / Bonheiden, Belgium

2009
Huize Frankendael / Amsterdam, the Netherlands

2004
Novanta Nove Galerie / Amsterdam, the Netherlands

2003
de Groene Poort / Middenbeemster, the Netherlands

2002
The Gallery / Laren, the Netherlands

2001
The Gallery / Laren, the Netherlands
de Galerie / de Hague, the Netherlands

2000
de Groene Poort / Middenbeemster, the Netherlands
The Gallery / Laren, the Netherlands
Knickerbocker Gallery, ‘With flowers from Holland’ / New York
Gallery Gooilust / ‘S-Graveland, the Netherlands

1999
The Gallery / Laren, the Netherlands
de Galerie / de Hague, the Netherlands
de Groene Poort / Middenbeemster, the Netherlands
Dedato / Santiago, Chile
Art Depot / Bonheiden, Belgium

1998
Art Depot / Bonheiden, Belgium
Palmaarte Gallery, ‘Lineart’ / Gent, Belgium
The Gallery / Laren, the Netherlands

1997
Novanta Nove Galerie / Amsterdam, the Netherlands

1996
Betondag / Rotterdam, the Netherlands 
WFC Galerie / Amsterdam, the Netherlands

1995
WFC Galerie / Amsterdam, the Netherlands

1994
80 Washington Square East Gallery / New York

1991
Istituto Statale D’arte, Campo dei Carmini / Venice, Italy 

Her works are in numerous private and corporate collections including the Akzo Nobel Art Foundation, Flower Art Museum, and Museum Belvédère