Karen Holloway

Vintage vases and family heirlooms, frayed textiles, floral patterns and the nuanced beauty of native flora hold a special place in the heart of Karen Holloway. For her, they encapsulate the stories of generations past and resonate with the heart of the land. In her mixed media works, Karen explores narratives that celebrate and preserve familial traditions.

Karen has a background in graphic design and illustration. She designs nature inspired artworks with a vintage sensibility and a touch of whimsy and loves translating her artwork into patterns and prints, licensing them for apparel, homewares and stationery.

Although Karen also works as a paper conservator and museum professional, her passion for visual communication remains the cornerstone of her work, navigating the delicate balance between creation and preservation.

Through her illustrative style, Karen recreates the subtle textures of vintage patinas with a palette inspired by florals. She also carries a reverence for Japanese tissue, embroidery and textiles. Just as she mends and restores delicate papers and fibres as a conservator, in her artwork she explores the delicate interplay between nature, art, family and memory.

Echoing the enduring beauty of Australian flora, delicate embroidered and painted details tell stories of resilience, the passage of generations alongside precious objects and cherished heirlooms. Karen believes that observing the beauty in both the ephemeral and the enduring, fosters a deeper appreciation for the world around us.

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