Moving away from line and figurative art, Karen van de Vliet developed a new approach to her work that is focused on embracing an imperfect beauty. She is intrigued by shapes that arise on weathered, chipped, broken, planed and dented surfaces. It is in these weathered parts that Karen finds the essence of true beauty. Taking inspiration from these findings, she creates wondrous abstract pieces that depart from her gravitation towards stains. Working with stains enables her to let go of all expectations and give free rein to expression. Hereby, acrylic paint, water and differing other materials are intuitively applied onto the surface. The search for a state of freedom without judgment ends when harmony is reached. When her eye is not drifting away, and attention is brought solely to the work itself. For Karen, creating an artwork is like getting to know a new piece of you with every action you take. In that way, Karen’s work can be described as a reflection of herself, as well as her environment; constantly moving and developing.

2001 – Graduated at Willem de Kooning Academie (Rotterdam)

2023
THERESI_ART 07 at ART[S] Gallery Simone Jansen – group, Noordwijk
KunstRAI, Amsterdam RAI, represented by Root Gallery – group, Amsterdam
Group Show No. 2 at Root Gallery – group, Rotterdam 
Group Show No. 1 at Root Gallery – group, Rotterdam

2022
THERESI_ART 05 at ART[S] Gallery Simone Jansen – group, Noordwijk
Solo exhibition at Root Gallery –  Rotterdam 
THERESI_ART 04 at ART[S] Gallery Simone Jansen – group, Noordwijk
KEILECONTEMPORARY at Har. Art. Gallery – group, Rotterdam (during Rotterdam Art Week)

2020
Meesters van de Zilverstad, Solo, Schoonhoven

2019
Har.OPEN at Har. Art Gallery – group, The Hague (during Hoogtij)
KEILECONTEMPORARY at Har. Art. Gallery – group, Rotterdam (during Rotterdam Art Week)

2018 
Group Exhibition at Kaus Australis Rotterdam – group, Rotterdam
Solo exhibtion at G126 – solo, Rotterdam

2015 
Zomerexpo at Gemeentemuseum Den Haag – group, The Hague 

2010
Route du Nord 2010 – Group, Rotterdam

2009 
Route du Nord 2009 – Group, Rotterdam

2008
Verstand van Smaak at TAC – group, Eindhoven        
Route du Nord 2008 – group, Rotterdam

2006
Inedible Marks at Galleria@Erieview – group, Cleveland (USA)
DROP at Gallery AARTCorp – group, Cleveland (USA)

2005
Playing with the light within at Gallery U – group, Cleveland (USA)
De Aanschouw at Café de Schouw –  Rotterdam
Expo at Galerie Maas – group, Rotterdam

2023 May – KunstRAI, Amsterdam RAI, represented by Root Gallery – group, Amsterdam

2022 October – Art The Hague, Fokker Terminal, represented by Root Gallery – group, The Hague

2019 October – Art The Hague, Fokker Terminal, represented by Har. Art Gallery – group, The Hague