Photo by Travis Young.
Tara Karaim was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She attended the University of Kansas where she earned her BFA in Art History in 2013. In 2016, she graduated with her MA in Art History from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Commissioned portraiture is the foundation of Karaim's oeuvre. Because of her education, she is constantly incorporating her knowledge of the history of art into her work as well.
Karaim uses acrylic paint to create naturalistic and colorful portraits of both humans and pets. One focus of her work is female empowerment and feminism. She first sought to use her art history background by referencing nineteenth-century depictions of women and imbuing them with modern twists. These paintings show how far women have come, but also what we still have yet to overcome. Karaim then shifted to collaborating with women, to portray them how they want to be seen. This series shows and legitimizes a diversity of women’s passions, personalities, and purposes.
Since the beginning of the Covid-19 quarantine, Karaim has also been painting her experience at home with her partner and two dogs. These are intimate portraits that show the confinement of the pandemic, but also the comfort, joy, and relief that home provided. Throughout Karaim’s oeuvre, she focuses on colors and textures to show the beauty of her subjects and give viewers something to visually admire and explore.
EXHIBITIONS:
Heartland Art Club August-October 2023
“RepreSENSATIONAL 2023: A Heartland Club National Juried Exhibition”
Buttonwood Art Space July-September 2023
“Serenity”
Buttonwood Art Space April-June 2023
“From the Earth”
80 Santa Fe Art Gallery April-May 2023
“Emergence”
The Rice Gallery of Fine Art February 2023
“Small Works National Juried Show: Little Gems”
Buttonwood Art Space January-March 2023
“The Art of Discovery”
Kansas City Artist Coalition November 2022
“Art for All”
InterUrban Art House November 2022
“12 x 12 Member Show”
Buttonwood Art Space April-June 2022
“Kansas City 2022”
Buttonwood Art Space January-March 2022
“Abstract: heART for All”
InterUrban ArtHouse January-February 2022
“Art Heals”
Kansas City Artists Coalition. November 2021
“Art for All”
Buttonwood Art Space July-September 2021
“Home: An Art Benefit for Amethyst Place”
Buttonwood Art Space April-June 2021
“Art for the Animals”
Interurban Arthouse March 2021
“Her Art/Their Art: Intersections and Identity”
Buttonwood Art Space January-March 2021
“Nature’s Bounty”
Kansas City Artists Coalition November 2020
“Art for All”
Buttonwood Art Space July-September 2020
“Connections: An Art Benefit for Jewish Family Services”
Buttonwood Art Space June 2020
“Kansas City: An Art Benefit for Kansas City Parks and Recreation”
The Gallery Event Space March 2019
“Congregation Biav Gala”
Buttonwood Art Space December 2017
“Kansas City Artists Coalition Members Exhibition”
Kansas City Kansas Community College August 2017
“KCKCC Faculty Show”
Kansas City Artists Coalition July 2017
“River Market Regional Exhibition: Truth Trust Transcend”
Todd Weiner Gallery December 2016
“Holiday Show”
Kansas City Artists Coalition November 2016
“One Night Stand”
Westport Yoga October 2016
“Annual Glow Show”
H2B Architects Inc. August 2016
“New Moon”