Internal Map #2

About Internal Map #2

This contemporary mixed media abstract composition is rendered in earthy hues and painted on linen.

For more than twenty years, Canadian artist Karen Bagayawa has explored nature’s patterns, colours and textures using paint, textiles, and grout as expressive mediums. Her unique visual language combines linen that she weaves on a traditional loom, an application of grout that naturally cracks as it dries creating remarkable texture and layers of colour washes. Her work focuses on the power of colour to convey emotion. The Internal Map series of compositions is focused on the idea that we all have an ’internal map’, a distinct life story. Internal Map #2 has an earthy palette, a melange of clay, green, brown and white.

“Internal Map #1 and #2 explores the question, “What lies beneath?” Underneath multiple layers of grout, lives woven skins I weave on a traditional Jack loom. Woven skins that breathe personal narratives of life’s complexities, memories and emotions within cracked surfaces- patterns formed that are only unique to me.” Karen Bagayawa

Karen Bagayawa was born in Cambridge, Ontario. In 1998, she obtained her B.F.A. from Queen’s University in Kingston. After graduation, she spent five years teaching Kindergarten in Northern Japan where she also pursued her art. Following several exhibitions in Japan, and New York, she returned to Canada in 2004. In that same year she enrolled in the Advanced Textile Arts Certificate Program at Capilano College B.C. She has exhibited in Canada and created numerous private and public commissions. Her work can be found in collections in Japan, Singapore, the UK, the US, Luxembourg, Australia, China, France and Italy.