Keep Art It - Founder/Director
December 2020 - Present service: www.keepartit.org shop: www.keepartit.com ART100 Gallery Space CIC Jan 2024 - Present https://art100gallery.square.site/ |
Statement
Douglas Karson is an American-born artist living and working in Bristol. Self-taught, his practice incorporates colour, philosophy, storytelling, poetry and ink on paper with a particular focus on painting.
Bold colour, geometry and a sensitivity to line and balance characterize his artworks, which are informed by personal and spiritual philosophies.
His ongoing series, THE RULES, uses elements from Greco-Roman philosophy, Chinese mythology, Yogic theory and Western philosophy to formulate a process of making-as-manifesto, or manifesto-as-making.
In an unexpected twist, in 2024, based off Viktor Frankl's theory of paradoxical intentionality, he made a massive switch to his creative output by focusing on painting the worst art. The Emoji series emerged from this ideology.
Douglas believes passionately in creating and nurturing artist communities. Douglas has participated in and organised over 30 group and solo exhibitions internationally in the UK and the United States and is the Founder/Director of Keep Art It Ltd.
Bold colour, geometry and a sensitivity to line and balance characterize his artworks, which are informed by personal and spiritual philosophies.
His ongoing series, THE RULES, uses elements from Greco-Roman philosophy, Chinese mythology, Yogic theory and Western philosophy to formulate a process of making-as-manifesto, or manifesto-as-making.
In an unexpected twist, in 2024, based off Viktor Frankl's theory of paradoxical intentionality, he made a massive switch to his creative output by focusing on painting the worst art. The Emoji series emerged from this ideology.
Douglas believes passionately in creating and nurturing artist communities. Douglas has participated in and organised over 30 group and solo exhibitions internationally in the UK and the United States and is the Founder/Director of Keep Art It Ltd.
Shows, Publications, Awards
Facebook Creator to Watch: March 2023
Longlist VAA Open: October 2022
Keep Art It Inaugural Show - December 2020
Galleries Shopping Center
Organiser/Arist
Art HOLE Magazine - June 2020
Featured Artist
The RULES Exhibition - Solo Show
26th Jan - 28th Feb 2020
Bristol, UK
West Bristol Arts Trail - Oct 18th,19th 2019
Bristol, 2019
A5 Magazine: Feature, Issue no. 22,
Jan 2019
WotisArt magazine:
Feature, Issue no. 22, Jan 2019
Clifton Open Exhibition
August 2018. Clifton Art Club, Bristol, UK
10 Year Retrospective Group Show Selection
June 2018. Hamilton House, Bristol, UK
Art Reveal Magazine:
Douglas Karson, interview, no.36, January 2018, pg 54; ISBN 9781388973230
The Canteen, Hamilton House
Artist of the Month - Bristol, UK, February 2018
Average Art Magazine:
Featured Artist - November 2017
Artfinder.com
Featured Art of the Day - August 2017
Spike Island Newsletter: Featured artist
Bristol, UK, August 2017
The ONE2 festival
Co-Founder, Organiser, Exhibiting Artist
Hackney, London - May 2017
The Art Pop Up: 10 day Solo Exhibition
Blackfriars, London - October 2016
Travelled, worked and studied abroad (including a year living in Japan) 2015-2016
Lululemon Yoga Brand UK Showroom Artist:
London, UK - Art and Yoga - 2011-2014
Longlist VAA Open: October 2022
Keep Art It Inaugural Show - December 2020
Galleries Shopping Center
Organiser/Arist
Art HOLE Magazine - June 2020
Featured Artist
The RULES Exhibition - Solo Show
26th Jan - 28th Feb 2020
Bristol, UK
West Bristol Arts Trail - Oct 18th,19th 2019
Bristol, 2019
A5 Magazine: Feature, Issue no. 22,
Jan 2019
WotisArt magazine:
Feature, Issue no. 22, Jan 2019
Clifton Open Exhibition
August 2018. Clifton Art Club, Bristol, UK
10 Year Retrospective Group Show Selection
June 2018. Hamilton House, Bristol, UK
Art Reveal Magazine:
Douglas Karson, interview, no.36, January 2018, pg 54; ISBN 9781388973230
The Canteen, Hamilton House
Artist of the Month - Bristol, UK, February 2018
Average Art Magazine:
Featured Artist - November 2017
Artfinder.com
Featured Art of the Day - August 2017
Spike Island Newsletter: Featured artist
Bristol, UK, August 2017
The ONE2 festival
Co-Founder, Organiser, Exhibiting Artist
Hackney, London - May 2017
The Art Pop Up: 10 day Solo Exhibition
Blackfriars, London - October 2016
Travelled, worked and studied abroad (including a year living in Japan) 2015-2016
Lululemon Yoga Brand UK Showroom Artist:
London, UK - Art and Yoga - 2011-2014