About Karen

  My life and work are synonymous. My work is a direct expression of my life and inspirations. I create art because it is the closest expression of life that I have found. My inspirations are often informed by the idyllic landscape. This is not to say that my sculptures represent nature, but rather that they represent the emotional impact one feels when in the natural setting. The primary focus of my work is on non-verbal communication and emotional nuances that are unspoken. I strive to stimulate the viewers’ response by activating emotions associated with past experiences, creating a more meaningful insight. My work can be understood in a moment, but has layers that can be seen for those who pause. I try to reveal an organic nature with a sense of history, using a material that is usually cold and industrial. Every weld and grind mark is an intentional decision. I attempt to reflect a beauty that can only be found in the organic.

I like to incorporate circular images with intersecting lines into my sculptural works, because of their rich thematic relevance found throughout history. The circle and cross are one of the earliest symbols seen in human cultural development, dating back to the Stone Age. Circles reference all that is natural; such as the sun, moon, earth, cycles of life, time, and repetition. I often use the circle to represent the notion of unity. The “X” reflects transit themes of crossing, intersecting, joining, and marking a point in time or space. Also, I use the two symbols combined as a show of affection for the world as a whole.

-Karen Yank

Photo: Dean Hanson/Albuquerque Journal