Artist Bio and Statement
Artist Bio
Kansas City native Karen E. Griffin (KE) is a self-taught visual, teaching, and performing artist creates vibrant abstract works explore themes of identity and urban landscapes. Influenced by her mother's entrepreneurial spirit and formative experiences with her seventh-grade art teacher, art classes the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Kansas City and Hallmark Cards Inc. Griffin's art reflects a unique perspective shaped by her Kansas City and Marlin, Texas roots. She is a Certified National and International Storyteller due to life encounters regrading her grandmother picking cotton and her mother measuring cotton in the garment district in Kansas City.
Karen E. Griffin's artistic contributions to the Kansas City area have earned her significant recognition, including being named the 2025 Individual Artist of the Year for Missouri and City of Kansas City. The Jackson County, Missouri, Office of the County Legislature further honored her with Proclamation Resolution NO. 21819. 2023-2025 Artist-in-Residence, Englewood Arts Center, Independence, Missouri. Her educational and historical collections, exhibited across the metro area and other states, were highlighted in Kansas City Studio magazine, and The Kansas City Globe. In addition to her art, Karen dedicates time reading, enjoying conversations with her grandchildren, and supporting the homeless community.
Artist Statement
Karen E. Griffin (KE) creates striking two-dimensional portraits that aim to empower viewers to embrace their unique identities as well as African based abstractions depicting cultural and community narratives. She fuses high fashion with vibrant storytelling of African American heritage. Inspired by her connection to the diaspora, Karen uses African prints to meticulously render each image, capturing the intricate details of the fabric and the bold energy of the patterns. Her work celebrates the enduring influence of African textiles on contemporary style, inviting viewers to explore the rich cultural narratives woven into every thread.
Karen’s work celebrates the rich tapestry of African American culture through the exploration of prints, patterns, and symbols. By incorporating these elements, she aims to create pieces that resonate deeply with the African American community and offer a connection to our ancestral heritage. While we may never fully comprehend the lives of our ancestors, we carry their legacy within us through our fashion, food, culture, dances, and music. Her art serves as a visual expression of this enduring connection.
