2007, Swenholt inspects patina on a cast of Waiting for the First Stone.


Karen Swenholt is a figurative sculptor who lives and works in Northern Virginia. After attending Maryland Institute, College of Art (MICA) and California College of the Arts, she continued her studies at various studio schools including New York City’s New York Studio School, under Bruce Gagnier, Virginia’s Art League.

Influences from her studies on the West Coast - specifically the Bay Area figurative movement combined with the emotional power of abstract expressionism from her East Coast origins form the foundation of Swenholt’s work. The rough painterly surfaces of her sculptures contrast with their grace. She is particularly effective at depicting the human face along with gesture to convey emotion and movement.

Karen Swenholt is currently Artist in Residence at Convergence in Alexandria, Virginia where her large-scale sculptures are on view in their Sculpture Garden.  She served as Artist in Residence at Washington Shakespeare Company from 2002-2011 and at Wesley Theological Seminary throughout 2010.  She served as Artist in Residence at Washington Shakespeare Company from 2002-2011 and at Wesley Theological Seminary throughout 2010. 

Her work can be found in many public and private collections including the home of Bono (U2), Killiney, Ireland, the permanent collection of the Vladmir Romanov Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia and Cairn University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC, The Tennessee Center for Bioethics and Culture in Nashville and other public institutions.  

For updates on exhibitions and developing work, please sign up for Swenholt Art News @ Karen Swenholt Portfolios.

Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/karenswenholt/

Facebook Artpage at www.facebook.com/karenswenholtart/. 

Mark Sprinkle's beautifully written and discerning article titled Lost and Found, Karen Swenholt Unmakes Identity Politics in the November 2017 issue of Image Journal is a great resource to learn more about Swenholt's life and work.
Image Journal: https://www.imagejournal.org/article/lost-and-found/

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About the Artist


2007, Swenholt inspects patina on a cast of Waiting for the First Stone.


Karen Swenholt is a figurative sculptor who lives and works in Northern Virginia. After attending Maryland Institute, College of Art (MICA) and California College of the Arts, she continued her studies at various studio schools including New York City’s New York Studio School, under Bruce Gagnier, Virginia’s Art League.

Influences from her studies on the West Coast - specifically the Bay Area figurative movement combined with the emotional power of abstract expressionism from her East Coast origins form the foundation of Swenholt’s work. The rough painterly surfaces of her sculptures contrast with their grace. She is particularly effective at depicting the human face along with gesture to convey emotion and movement.

Karen Swenholt is currently Artist in Residence at Convergence in Alexandria, Virginia where her large-scale sculptures are on view in their Sculpture Garden.  She served as Artist in Residence at Washington Shakespeare Company from 2002-2011 and at Wesley Theological Seminary throughout 2010.  She served as Artist in Residence at Washington Shakespeare Company from 2002-2011 and at Wesley Theological Seminary throughout 2010. 

Her work can be found in many public and private collections including the home of Bono (U2), Killiney, Ireland, the permanent collection of the Vladmir Romanov Palace in St. Petersburg, Russia and Cairn University in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Wesley Theological Seminary, Washington, DC, The Tennessee Center for Bioethics and Culture in Nashville and other public institutions.  

For updates on exhibitions and developing work, please sign up for Swenholt Art News @ Karen Swenholt Portfolios.

Instagram at: https://www.instagram.com/karenswenholt/

Facebook Artpage at www.facebook.com/karenswenholtart/. 

Mark Sprinkle's beautifully written and discerning article titled Lost and Found, Karen Swenholt Unmakes Identity Politics in the November 2017 issue of Image Journal is a great resource to learn more about Swenholt's life and work.
Image Journal: https://www.imagejournal.org/article/lost-and-found/

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