Karena is an artist working from her studio in County Galway. She took the long way round to complete her Fine Art Degree, obtaining a Degree in Physical Education and English along the way. After teaching at Second Level for over twenty years she made the decision to take a career break to immerse herself into her own practice.
She combines hand embroidery, free motion stitching and beading in her highly tactile artwork and draws inspiration from literature, ancestry and the memories held within the landscape. Karena has a sustainable practice and repurposes fabrics and materials in her art. A self confessed collector of vintage fabrics and memorabilia and most definitely not a hoarder! The textile piece shown left is her aunts on Enniscrone beach in the 1960's.
Karena is currently working on a new hand made collection using Irish tweeds, wools and linens. She has a strong connection to the iconic Foxford woollen blanket ( every home had them growing up) and has hand dyed them for use in her work.
Featured image on left is of Keel, Achill Island which was exhibited at the Climate Conference in Ballina in July 2023.
