Karen grew up in Brooklyn and graduated Boston College with a major in Studio Art. She worked in the art department of the Lancit Media Productions science nature program Backyard Safari, in the production department of Sesame Street, and in the art department for sets and props of several off-Broadway theatrical productions. She received her MA in Elementary Education at New York University and taught sixth grade science and math. She also taught art electives including Mixed Media Sculpture and Puppet Making. 

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Karen recently combined her love of art and mathematical tessellations in her painted pineapple pattern dress at the exhibit “Symbiosis: When Fashion Meets Art” at the Bee Cave Galleria. Her sculptures and paintings have been viewed at various galleries in New York and Texas including the Art Car Museum in Houston, the Austin Art Space Gallery, the Downtowner Gallery in Round Rock and the TNC Gallery in the East Village of New York City.

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Karen is curious about animal behavior and finds joy in observing creatures in their natural habitat. Her love of animals and nature led her to volunteer in assisting with research on sea turtles at Bahia de los Angelos as well as research with sign-language proficient chimpanzees at the Chimpanzee and Human Communications Institute.

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Karen is fascinated by the intelligence, beauty and camouflage of the octopus with its playful, spiraling arms. She is intrigued by the monster-like mandrill monkey in all its colorful splendor. She is amazed by the majestic macaw and the paint-splattered shell patterns of the hawksbill sea turtle. This led her to create papier mâché clay sculptures to represent some of the most colorful and playful animals she has seen.