Bio
Douglas Karson is an American-born artist living and working in Bristol. Self-taught, his practice incorporates storytelling, poetry and ink on paper with a particular focus on painting. Bold colour, geometry and a sensitivity to line and balance characterise his paintings, which are informed by personal and spiritual philosophies. His ongoing series THE RULES uses elements from Greco-Roman and Chinese mythology, Yogic theory and Hindi philosophy to formulate a process of painting-as-manifesto, or manifesto-as-painting. A rigid formal framework and methodology engenders dozens of potential outcomes, each a cross-cultural message suffused with subtle politics.
Douglas believes passionately in creating and nurturing artist communities. He founded Art Battle UK, a live painting event that brings artists and art lovers together in a unique environment, breaking art out of its sanctioned and sanitised “white cube” contexts. Douglas has participated in and organised over 30 group and solo exhibitions across the UK and the United States, and his work has been featured in magazines such as Art Reveal and Creativ Paper.
Douglas believes passionately in creating and nurturing artist communities. He founded Art Battle UK, a live painting event that brings artists and art lovers together in a unique environment, breaking art out of its sanctioned and sanitised “white cube” contexts. Douglas has participated in and organised over 30 group and solo exhibitions across the UK and the United States, and his work has been featured in magazines such as Art Reveal and Creativ Paper.
Exhibitions
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Producer WorkArt Battle Bristol - December 2017 - March 2020
Bristol Founder, Producer, Host/MC + Engaging with local Bristol arts community + Mastering budgeting, pay, invoicing, long term scheduling and logistics + Directing volunteers, artists and freelancers from various disciplines to create a safe and memorable audience experience Self Employed - July 2016 - Present London and Bristol Yoga Teacher and Artist + Manifesting solo and group art exhibitions and experiences, published painter with regular sales, published poet, selected for various painting competitions + Teaching regular yoga classes in Bristol + Actively connecting with more than 6,000 social media followers ONE2 festival - October 2016 - May 2017 London Founder, Producer, Host + Bringing vision and energy to all marketing material and distribution + Dynamic planning and engaging with performances, burlesque, workshops, bold experimentation, music, dance, theatre, comedy, painting, and community engagement The ART Pop-Up - July 2016 London, Blackfriars. Owner/Artist + Pop-Up art exhibition near the Tate modern to share new work produced while in Japan + 40 original artwork sales over 10 day period EducationUniversity of New Hampshire August 2002 – May 2006
Durham, NH, USA B.A. Political Science and Philosophy w/ Hons French Culinary Institute August 2008 – February 2009 New York, NY, USA Grand Diploma de Patisserie w/ Hons |
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Professional Memberships
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