​artist

paintings and drawings

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Selected Exhibitions

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2023                  Giles Gallery Golden Grand Opening, Eastern Kentucky University (group)
                       Re: Surface, WheelHouse Art, Louisville, Ky. (group)

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2022                      Organic by Nature, City Gallery, Lexington, Ky. (invitational, three-person)


2021                      3x33, Downtown Arts Center, Lexington, Ky. (invitational)

                              Intersection: White Coats, Lexington Art League, Lexington, Ky. (juried)


2019                      What We Inhabit, LexArts Gallery, Lexington, Ky. (juried)
                              Reimagine, Art Inspired by Grade School Children, City Gallery, Lexington, Ky. (invitational)​

                              Works by Karen Spears Springate & Joe Molinaro, City Gallery, Pam Miller Downtown Arts Center, Lexington, Ky. 
                              You and Me, M.S. Rezny Studio/Gallery, Lexington, Ky. (invitational)


2018                      Landscape Invitational, Jasper Community Arts Center, Jasper, Indiana (group invitational)
                              Selections From the Teachings of James Grubola, Schneider Hall Galleries, University of Louisville (group invitational)

             

2017                      The Modern Landscape, New Editions Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky (group)

                              not Big(4), M.S. Rezny Studio/Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky (juried, national)

                              Kentucky Painters, Berea Arts Council, Berea, Kentucky (invitational)​

                              Tribute Exhibition, Ann Tower Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky (group)
                              Gridworks Revisited, New Editions Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky (juried)
                              Kentucky Creeks, City Gallery, Downtown Arts Center, Lexington, Kentucky (invitational)


2016                       Ways of Seeing, traveling state-wide exhibit, Kentucky Arts Council (juried)
                               Pencil & Paper, M.S. Rezny Studio/Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky (invitational)

                               Group Show, Ann Tower Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky
                               Kentucky Visions at the Capitol: Fifty/50, Frankfort, Ky. (invitational)


2015                        Drawn to Kentucky:  Works on Paper, Artsplace Gallery, Lexington, Ky., (juried)

                                Horizon: Contemporary Landscape, Community Arts Center, Danville, Ky. (juried, national)
                                Here and Now: Selections from The Artist Archive, Lexington Art League, Lexington, Kentucky (juried, invitational)
                                It Takes Two, Collaboration with M.S. Rezny, Kentucky Artisan Center, Berea, Kentucky (juried)

                                Shaped by Water, Gallery on Main, Richmond, Kentucky (group, Best in Show award)

                                Mentor/Mentee Exhibit, Gallery on Main, Richmond, Ky. (invitational)

                                Office of the Lt. Governor, Frankfort, Ky. (invitational)
                                Kentucky Treasures IV, Offices of the First Lady, Kentucky State Capitol, Frankfort, Ky. (juried)

 2014                        Uncommon Wealth, Lyric Theatre & selected Kentucky venues, Kentucky Arts Council (juried)
                                 Painting Nature, Berea Arts Council, Berea, Kentucky (invitational)

 

 2013                        3x33, curated by Marco Logsdon, M.S.Rezny Studio/Gallery (invitational)
                                 Horizon: Contemporary Landscape, Community Arts Center, Danville, Ky., (juried, national)

                                 Mentor/Mentee Exhibit, Gallery on Main, Richmond, Ky. (invitational)
                                 Kentucky Treasures, Offices of the First Lady, Kentucky State Capitol, Frankfort, Ky. (juried)
                                 Karen Spears: New Work, Ann Tower Gallery, Lexington, Ky. (one-person)

                                 Kentucky Visions at the Capitol, Kentucky State Capitol Annex, Frankfort, Ky. (juried, invitational)


​2012                        Al Smith Exhibition, Artsplace, Lexington, Ky. (invitational)

                                 Horizon: Contemporary Landscape, Community Arts Center, Danville, Ky. (juried national)
                                 Collaborate, M.S. Rezny Studio/Gallery, Lexington, Ky. (invitational)

                                 Group Show, Ann Tower Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky

                                 State of Drawing, Anne Wright Wilson Fine Art Gallery, Georgetown College, Georgetown, Ky. (invitational)


2011                         Biennial Faculty Exhibition, Giles Gallery, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Ky.

                                 Group Show, Ann Tower Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky

                                 Kentucky Visions, House & Senate Offices, Frankfort, Kentucky (juried, invitational)   


2010                         Perceptions, Logsdon 1909 Gallery, Chicago, Illinois (two-person)

                                 Bluegrass Biennial, Claypool-Young Art Gallery, Morehead State University, Morehead, Ky. (juried)
                                 Evolving, Revolving 9, Ann Tower Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky (group)
                                 Red, M.S. Rezny Studio/Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky (invitational)

2009                         Logsdon 1909 Gallery, Chicago, Illinois (group)
                                 Shaped by Water, Gallery on Main, Richmond, Kentucky (group)
                                 Chautauqua Exhibition: Freedom, Giles Gallery, Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Ky. (juried)
                                 Kentucky Visions at the Capital, Senate, Frankfort, Kentucky (juried)
                                 Karen Spears, New Paintings & Drawings, Ann Tower Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky (one person)


​2008                         Memory and Perception, Ann Tower Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky (invitational)
                                 Uncommon Wealth, Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Louisville, Kentucky (juried)
                                 Kentucky Visions at the Capital, Senate Leadership Offices, Frankfort, Kentucky (juried)


​2007                         Kentucky Visions at the Capitol, Frankfort, Kentucky (invitational)
                                 EKU Faculty, Artist’s Attic, Lexington, Kentucky (invitational)

2006                         Evolving, Revolving, Group Exhibition, Ann Tower Gallery, Lexington, Kentucky                       

                                 Uncommon Wealth, Kentucky Arts Council Fellowship Recipients, Loudon House, Lexington, Kentucky          
(more to come)

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Selected Grants, Fellowships


  • Research Award, Eastern Kentucky University, 2008
  • Al Smith Fellowship, Professional Assistance Award, Kentucky Arts Council, 1992, 2000, 2007
  • Kentucky Foundation for Women Artist’s Fellowship, 1990, 1998


Selected Professional Activities
 

  • Judge, All Creatures Great and Small art exhibition, Creative Art League, Nicholasville, Kentucky, 2017
  • The Bourbon Barrel Project on Town Branch, collaboration with Pat Lawrence, Lexington, Kentucky, 2013
  • Cover Artist, Advent Devotions, Twin Pines Christian Church, Lexington, Kentucky, 2010           
  • Horse Mania, Sam, The Fan, juried public art, Lexington Arts and Cultural Council,  Lexington, Kentucky, 2010
  • Cover Artist, Anomie, Poems by Marcia Hurlow, Custom Words, Cincinnati, Ohio, 2004
  • Dynamic Doors, juried public art, sponsored by the Kentucky League of Cities, Lexington, Kentucky, 2003
  • Featured Artist, Looking at Painting, Kentucky Educational Television, 2001
  • Horse Mania, Kentucky Blue Sky Horse, juried public art, Lexington, Kentucky, 2000           
  • Visiting Artist in Residence, Brisons Veor Workspace, Cornwall, England, 1992
  • Visiting Artist, American Academy in Rome, Italy, Dec.-Jan. 1990-1991
  • Visiting Artist, University of Georgia Studies Abroad program, Cortona, Italy, 1987


Work Experience

Professor, Department of Art & Design, Eastern Kentucky University 1987-2015
University of Louisville, Department of Fine Arts 1983-1986

Education


 Master of Fine Arts, Painting and Drawing, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
 Bachelor of Arts, Fine Arts, University of Louisville

 Collections

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  •            University of Kentucky Hospital, St. Joseph East medical center      
  •            Oklahoma State University, Louisville Gas & Electric Co., MacDonald’s Collection, Wabash College,
  •            University of Louisville School of Business, and other corporate and private collections. . .
  •            Book collections of the Museum of Modern Art, Olin Library, University of Houston, among others.