I am an artist.

It took a while to say that. During undergraduate studies at the University of Michigan, the blank canvas in my first art seminars was intimating. I was young and unsure of my voice. So I sought a path with boundaries and turned to interior architecture, graphic and product design: practices that have structure rooted in both problem solving and creativity. I found a home.

That home led to a vibrant twenty-five year career in architectural design culminating in award-winning projects recognized with numerous awards and project publications including Architectural Record, Interior Design and Print magazines.

Yet all the while, there was an itch.

I longed to be a maker, getting dirty in materials to translate ideas and experiences into a personal visual language. Awarded a full-merit scholarship to study at Oregon College of Art and Craft, I returned to the studio and received a post-baccalaureate degree in sculptural ceramics and continued my studies as a curatorial intern at Portland’s Museum of Contemporary Craft under director Namita Gupta Wiggers.

Currently, my focus is on experimentations in structure, themes of strength and fragility, a love of the imperfect and the raw beauty of pared-down forms. My work is subtle yet filled with detail, beckoning the viewer to pause and pay close attention.

Since 2019, I have exhibited throughout California and the western United States. In addition to gallery exhibitions, I’ve collaborated with a variety of private and corporate collectors creating custom commissions and installations. I’m honored to have my work recognized in several publications including Ceramics Monthly, California Homes and California Home + Design magazines.

Let’s connect: karyn@karyngabriel.com

If you’re interested in exploring my architectural design work, click below!