Karen Asherah is a Santa Cruz County artist specializing in photography, painting and sculpture. Equines are very important in Karen’s life and are a common theme in her work. Karen is passionate about animal welfare and hopes that her work encourages humans to have compassion for all Beings in the world.
From the age of three, Karen enjoyed drawing. Her mother was a portrait artist who encouraged creative expression. Karen began exploring photography in her teens and in the early 1970's, attended art school at California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland. Through the 1970's and 1980's, Karen worked in the visual merchandising and graphic arts fields before obtaining a Masters in Social Work. After a twenty-five year career in social work, art has again become an important source of self-expression in Karen ‘s life.
Karen returned to photography over ten years ago, during a difficult time when her horse was recovering from an injury. For hours, Karen observed her horse enjoying a pasture life and having relationships with herd mates. Karen began to bring her camera to the pasture and it was through this process that she returned to photography.
Karen exhibits and sells her work online, in galleries, art festivals, shops and cafes. She has participated in juried photography shows at the Triton Museum, Santa Cruz Open Studios and at numerous California art centers. Karen’s photography has won awards at art centers in Sacramento, Chico and at the Western States Horse Exposition.