Selected Works
Biography
Karen Rumora (B. 1961 Cleveland, Ohio) lives and works in her studio in Baltimore, Ohio (USA). Rumora is a professional artist and designer who specializes in oil, acrylic & encaustic paintings.
Rumora began her journey as a plein air painter. Those moments were about solitude and absorbing thoughts and emotions nature provoked. She wasn’t focused on composition but rather on journaling her feelings through the process of moving paint. Over time these observations became the foundation of her Biophilia series, where she translated the elements and sensations of nature into her work. In the studio, Karen discovered that the fluid motions and shapes she developed not only calmed her but also liberated her from the pressure of creating representational art. This is encapsulated in the Biophilia series, where the shapes symbolize the internal “cells” of her emotions. As she delves deeper into her work, dreamlike forms and spaces began to emerge, adding a new layer of depth to her oils and encaustic pieces.
She is a self taught artist with a degree in Industrial Design who has been in exhibitions, galleries, and museums; including the Art Access Gallery, the Manifest Gallery, and the Decorative Arts Center of Ohio. She was recently awarded art commissions for the Hilton’s permanent art collection in Columbus, the Greater Columbus Convention Center, Columbus Children’s Hospital, the newly renovated Lima Memorial Hospital, The Ohioan Conference Center and the Safe Auto Headquarters . She was selected by jury for the exclusive 2016, 2018, 2021 Art for Life event in Columbus, Ohio, the Ohio Art League’s Fall 2021 Exhibition and the 2022 Manifest Gallery’s Wilderness Show of Five Themes. Karen’s art is part of many private and public collections.
Artist Statement
My art is an exploration of nature’s dance of light, particularly as it filters through the foliage of trees. My work captures the interplay of verticals, orbs of light and color, creating a tapestry that evolves with every brushstroke. I am deeply influenced by the places I visit, capturing the essence of landscapes in moments encountered during cycling and hiking. Rather than confining myself to a single form, I allow each idea to determine its own material and method—whether through paint, encaustics, or mixed media. My encaustics evolve by layering custom colors in a wax medium that are scratched, scraped, melted, and brushed on wood panels. Pushing further, I burn, cut or carve the panels, and at times integrate recycled or homemade papers that grow into fresh, unmannered forms. My process shifts from a conscious observation, to a contemplative manifestation of a final image that is somewhat surreal.