Ebullient Multi-Layered Abstract Paintings

Banner image: Detail of “Light in the Field”

Karen H. Salup, karenhs.com, is a nationally renowned award-winning fine artist. Her ebullient abstract expressionist paintings are masterfully created with a spontaneous and proficient use of color, design and composition.

A Tree Stands Alone, acrylic, 40″ x 40″. This painting has been selected for “The Healing Power of Color” 2026 Invitational Exhibition presented on The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS website.

Karen is guided by her intuitive process. She explains, “My object is to convert memory to process, process to painting in a journey from nature to abstraction.”

Embodying the inherent qualities from the world of nature, music and other inspirational energetic sources Karen’s multi-layered paintings are comprised of emotive and lyrical gestural qualities.

Driving Around in Circles, acrylic, 40″ x 40″

Karen’s art has been featured in numerous publications including The New York Times, Newsday, ArtSpeak, Palm Beach Art & Culture, The Sun Sentinel, Shoutout, and Lifestyle, Miami.

Her many exhibitions include those presented at Judi & Allan Schuman Museum Gallery, Amory Art Center, and Nathan D. Rosen Museum of Art, among others.

Karen’s recent exhibitions include a group show at The Palm Beach Cultural Council in Lake Worth, Florida,  a group exhibition with the Palm Beach Water-media Society at the Crest Theater in Delray Beach, Florida. and the Painted Ladies Group Exhibit at The Cornell Museum, Delray Beach, Florida.

The Current Beneath Us, acrylic, 36″ x 36″

Karen is highly versatile and continues to expand the realms of creativity. She informs us that throughout her career  “I have sustained an active engagement with drawings, gesture and mark making on paper and canvases.”

Karen’s art has been selected for the Manhattan Arts International “HerStory” 2025 Invitational Exhibition. In coordination with this important annual show Karen will be featured in an article about women artists and their roles and purposes for supporting women and women arts organizations.

Whisper of Colors, acrylic,  40″ x 40″

In 2025  one of her paintings was selected for the Manhattan Arts International “Love, Peace, Unity & Hope” 2025 Invitational Exhibition. She wrote, “My concerns for earth and peace are always on my mine, when starting this painting, I began thinking about our existence on earth and love and kindness and how I wanted to express my concerns. It might seem political; however, I feel the warmth and love viewing this art.”

When Karen submitted her painting “Rainbow Summer Skies”, shown below, for “The Healing Power of Art Inspired by Nature” Exhibition she wrote “My art, without establishing a set formula, I encounter in nature many approaches for beginning. My experience of studying the skies provides inspiration. By observing the lines and shapes of any subject, I try to create from an intuitive use of expressive color, drawing that transforms images into representations on canvas or paper supports. I enjoy creating forms dancing around the canvas. The application of building of layers with additional media reconstructs the work into abstraction.”

Rainbow Summer Skies, acrylic, 40” x 40”. This painting was selected for “The Healing Power of Art Inspired by Nature” Invitational Exhibition presented on The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS, an initiative of Manhattan Arts International.

Karen’s art was also selected for inclusion in “The Healing Power of Color” 2025 Invitational Exhibition and “The Healing Power of Color” 2026 Invitational Exhibiiton — both presented on The Healing Power of ART & ARTISTS website, an initiative of Manhattan Arts International.

In her statement about color  Karen wrote “Color and I have been acquainted through my entire career. Color for me is everything. The sun rising in the east and setting in the west, is mesmerizing for me. Color comes to me in landscapes, the trees changing with the seasons, the flowers that bloom, and a simple orchard. Visiting museums and seeing colorful works by other artists are creative ideas and influences for me.”

Violet Limelight, mixed media, 40″ x 40″

At a young age Karen attended an art class with her grandmother, who was also an artist and was immediately immersed and in enamored by the world of art. She continued to develop her talents through education at The Arts Student League, School of Visual Arts, and C. W. Post University (now known as Long Island University.) Her art education also includes studying with Bob Yusuda, Gerry Samuels, Marilyn Mayer, and Jerry Okimoto.

Karen is a member of the Palm Beach Watercolor Society and she served as president of Women in the Visual Arts, both in Florida.

It is worth noting that Karen’s gorgeous works of art are available as original paintings, prints and fashion accessories such as tote bags. 

Visit Karen Salup’s website: karenhs.com