I collect fragments of experience.
My work begins with what catches my attention: an observation, a memory, an encounter. I print and paint papers and fabrics, then cut, tear, and layer them, following the relationships that emerge between color, pattern, and texture.
What interests me is the moment when separate elements begin to belong together. A fragment changes in the presence of another; an unexpected connection gives the whole a meaning I could not have planned. This discovery is at the heart of both my mixed fiber media and my newer works on paper. I invite viewers to linger and find connections to their own experiences.
Biography
Karen Spencer is a Portland, Oregon–based artist whose work explores meaning, connection, and discovery through mixed media collage and textile-based processes. After earning a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Michigan and building a career in the corporate world, she became a full-time studio artist in 2014.
Her artistic practice has been shaped through years of study with master artists across a variety of disciplines, leading to a distinctive approach that combines printing, painting, layering, and reconstruction. Initially recognized for her textile work, Spencer's art has been included in numerous contemporary fiber exhibitions, including Excellence in Quilts 2022 (Fiber Art Now) and Emergence: Fiber Art from Concept to Stitch (Studio Art Quilt Associates). She has also participated in the Portland Open Studios Tour and the Local 14 Art Show & Sale.
Today, Spencer's work draws inspiration from observations, travel, and everyday experience. Whether close to home or exploring new places, she is continually collecting fragments of life that find their way into her art, creating works that invite viewers to discover unexpected connections and meaning.
I'm an abstract textile artist, which means I make unique patterns and colors on fabric.
I like to create artwork that balances chaos and order, finding beauty in unexpected places.
I start by printing my designs on fabric and then cut and rearrange them as I go, letting my feelings guide me. The colors, patterns, shapes, and textures all play together. I'm always exploring how they work together to create something special.
My goal as an artist is to make art that looks amazing and makes people feel something special when they see it. I'm always trying new things to make my vision come to life.
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My process begins with a stack of self-designed silk screens, stencils and rubbing plates, pots of thickened dye and yards of white fabric. I spend days printing to where I’ve built up a significant variety of useful printed fabric to be included in future compositions. As I work, I look for pieces that “speak” to each other. I put these fabrics on the design wall along with others, making sure that conversation is an interesting one. I cut shapes and lines freehand, arranging - and rearranging – on the wall, looking for that spark of connection between the visual elements. I continue working until a dynamic composition is established. The cut pieces get sewn together, often with thin lines added to further relate the pieces as a whole. The artwork is finished off with a layer of quilted thread lines.
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Group Exhibitions
“2023 Local 14 Art Show and Sale” World Forestry Center, Portland, OR 2023
“Emergence: Fiber Art from Concept to Stitch” SAQA OR, multiple venues 2022-2023.
“2022 INTERSTATE: Where i-90 Meets I-82” Sarah Spurgeon Gallery, Ellensburg, WA, 2022.
“Excellence in Quilts 2022” Virginia Quilt Museum, Harrisonburg, VA, 2022.
“2018 Artist as Quiltmaker” Firelands Association for the Visual Arts, Oberlin, OH, 2018.
“Artquilt Elements 2018” Wayne Art Center, Wayne, PA, 2018.
“2018 Portland Open Studios Tour”
“Nod to Mod” Dab Art Gallery, Ventura, CA 2017 – 2018.
“35th Wallowa Valley Festival of Arts” Josephy Center, Joseph, OR, September 2017. First place, Fiberarts.
“2017 Portland Open Studios Tour”
“Blending Poetry and Cloth” SAQA OR, multiple locations, 2015 - 2017.
Publications
2022 Emergence, FiberArt from Concept to Stitch, SAQA Book
2022 FiberArts Now Winter issue and Online, Excellence in Quilts
Professional Memberships
American Craft Council
Columbia FiberArts Guild, NW Regional
Oregon Society of Artists
Studio Art Quilt Associates, International
Surface Design Association