The "Western Sublime" at the Tucson Museum of Art

“The Western Sublime: Majestic Landscapes of the American West” October 19, 2019-February 9, 2020

This was a beautiful exhibition and experience—it was an honor to be a part of it. Curated by Christine Brindza, this major exhibition examined works of art of the American West that interpret, reinvent, and transform the idea of the sublime: an aesthetic ideal with an emotional or spiritual charge that instills awe or inspires fear. Catalog available from the museum.

Karen Kitchel 2006; Hiss DETAIL 4, oil/panel, collection Tucson Museum of Art

"Pastoral Crude" opens December 8, 2018

2018 continues to be busy. The Carnegie Art Museum in Oxnard will present the first California exhibition of my landscape works using asphalt emulsion. “Pastoral Crude” opens December 8 and will be on view until February 17, 2019. This solo exhibit presents fifteen paintings of contemporary landscapes under threat, rendered in asphalt, oil, wax, mineral pigments & shellac/canvas.

Waterway #8 (Lake Casitas); Karen Kitchel©2018, 50”x50”, asphalt emulsion, oil, wax, powdered mineral pigments, shellac/canvas

"The Color of Drought" at Gerald Peters Gallery

August 24-September 29, 2018

A new group of paintings on canvas make up this long-awaited solo exhibition at Gerald Peters in Santa Fe. The images are enlarged specimens of the parched interior west; their energy and application speak to the urgent conditions familiar in today's landscape. Complexities of drought, fire, and renewal comprise these multi-layered maps of loss and hope.

Drought Picture #3, oil, shellac, mineral pigments/canvas; 36"x36"; Karen Kitchel©2018

"Austerity Measures" at Robischon Gallery

Eleven new oil and asphalt paintings are included in the current schedule at Robischon Gallery in Denver. "Austerity Measures" can be seen from March 15-May 5, 2018, alongside works from Edward Burtynsky, Chuck Forsman, and Elena Dorfman.

“Out of View” at Robischon Gallery

A selection of my new asphalt emulsion paintings will be on view at Robischon Gallery in a group exhibition titled "Out of View" opening May 17. The group show illuminates differing perspectives on current urgencies in the natural world; on view through July 8 in Denver, CO.

Waterway #6 © Karen Kitchel 2016 ; 50"x50"; asphalt emulsion, tar, oil, wax, shellac/canvas