Frequently asked questions
Short answers about Karen Wykerd, her work and where to find it.
Who is Karen Wykerd?
Karen Wykerd is a Cape Town-based artist who works in painting and embroidery on canvas, paper or glass. Her work explores light in everyday city life and in nature.
Where is Karen Wykerd based?
Karen Wykerd is based in Cape Town, South Africa.
What mediums does Karen Wykerd work in?
She works in painting and embroidery, on canvas, paper or glass, and also makes water colour monotypes.
What are the subjects of her work?
Karen Wykerd paints urban scenes, landscapes, beaches and bathers, from busy streets and forest paths to dappled pools. Each scene is defined by the changing light.
How does Karen Wykerd make her work?
She captures a scene first in photography and then in pigment or thread. Slow layers of brushstrokes and translucent washes of soft colour let her show light in all its changing qualities.
What is her background?
Karen Wykerd graduated with a diploma in Graphic Design from the Johannesburg College of Art in 1982 and worked in advertising for a number of years. She has painted full time since 2008.
Where has Karen Wykerd exhibited?
Her solo exhibitions include “Uncharted Territory” at State Of The Art Gallery and “Exhale” at The Studio Art Gallery, both in 2019. She has shown in group exhibitions in South Africa and with The Travelling Art Gallery in Hamburg, Palma and Kassel. Her Biography page has the full list.
How can I buy a painting by Karen Wykerd?
Karen Wykerd sells through galleries, not through this website, so there is no online shop. When a painting is at a gallery, its page links to it. You can also use “Ask Karen about this painting” on any painting’s page.
Which galleries work with Karen Wykerd?
Her past and current galleries are State Of The Art Gallery, 99 Loop Gallery, Artvark Gallery, Cape Palette Gallery, RK Contemporary, Ink Box Gallery, The Travelling Art Gallery and The Studio Art Gallery. State Of The Art Gallery and Ink Box Gallery have pages for her work, linked at the foot of this site.
Are prices shown on this website?
No. This website does not show prices. To ask about a painting, contact the gallery showing it or send Karen a message.
How do I know if a painting is still available?
Each painting in the Gallery is marked Available or Sold, and you can filter the Gallery to show only available paintings.
How can I contact Karen Wykerd?
Use the message form on the Contact page, email art@karenwykerd.com, or use the WhatsApp button on that page. Karen will reply to a message by email.