Karen Bexfield
Karen Bexfield was born in 1970 in Fort Collins, Colorado and grew up in the Washington D.C. area. Today, she lives in her recently completed dream home in Albuquerque, Nex Mexico. Bexfield began working with glass in 2003, drawn to the connections it has to the fields of both science and art. She holds a Master of Science in Physical Therapy degree from the Medical College of Virginia. Bexfield finds ties between her work in physical therapy and glass art because, in her words, “both are cerebral, intuitive and tactile.”
Bexfield’s glass work is kiln-formed. She creates her work with the intention of mirroring the organic patterns found in the natural world. Perhaps best known for the exploration of negative space within her work, Bexfield has mastered the unpredictable nature of heat’s effect on the glass medium. The myriad holes within her work have given her career much distinction, as they make her work instantly recognizable. It took well over a year for her to develop the calculus needed to precisely control this part of her process. She developed the technique by pushing the limits of her material, manipulating the amount of glass and heat needed to create her intended effects.
Bexfield’s art explores the relationship between positive and negative space, light and shadow, and the poetic balance they create. Her sculptures evoke a sense of tranquility, standing as expertly designed works of art that are strong in form yet delicate in both appearance and material. They are often quiet pieces, having been born in fire to take their stately place in the world. They represent a balance between control gained through much experimentation and experience and the pure chance of placing one’s work in the unpredictable nature of thousand plus degree temperatures. The end results display beautiful color, shape and movement, all highlighted by the changing of light in the environments in which they are placed.
Bexfield's art has been shown in major exhibitions in New York, Chicago and Miami. She has participated in museum shows in the New Mexico Museum of Art, Albuquerque Museum, Museum of Northwest Art, the Palm Springs Art Museum and the Corning Museum of Glass. Her drive to explore and unveil the mysteries in life continues to inspire her art.
