Collection: Karen Whitman

Born in New York City, Karen Whitman is a master printmaker who lives and works in Woodstock, New York. She earned her BFA from SUNY Buffalo and pursued further studies at the School of Visual Arts, Parsons School of Design, Woodstock School of Art, and The Art Students League. Whitman is a member of the Society of American Graphic Artists and Allied Artists of America.

Her relief prints capture the exuberance and playfulness of urban life, drawing inspiration from New York City—its architecture, people, and the multitude of creatures that inhabit its streets. Through bold contrasts, rhythmic compositions, and a touch of humor, she celebrates the vitality and complexity of city living.

Whitman has received numerous national honors, including Medals and Gold Medals of Honor for Graphics from the Catharine Lorillard Wolfe Art Club, Audubon Artists, Allied Artists of America, and the National Association of Women Artists, as well as the Rembrandt Graphic Arts Printmaking Award from the Hunterdon Museum in Clinton, New Jersey.

Her work is represented in the collections of The British Museum (London, UK), The New York Public Library, Portland Art Museum (Oregon), Jane Voorhees Zimmerli Art Museum (New Brunswick, NJ), The New-York Historical Society, and The Museum of the City of New York. She is listed in Who’s Who in American Art.

Whitman describes her process:

“I sketch on location, creating drawings that become either black-and-white or multi-colored images which I print myself. My subjects explore the vibrant life of the city—its dense, diverse architecture and the people who interact with it. Each vignette tells a story, reflecting both the whimsy and mystery that make New York endlessly inspiring.”