Artist Profile: Karen Pierce

Artist Bio

Fiber artist Karen Pierce grew up in the Midwest and holds degrees in German, French, International Business and Human Resource Development. Vienna, Austria was her home for twenty years when she worked for the U.N. She has lived in Colorado since 1996.

Learning from books in Austria, she taught herself basketry techniques and decided to turn her hobby into a second career. She has honed her skills through decades of weaving and at workshops taught by internationally-known artists and has taught basketry to teens and adults. Karen has also shown her work in juried fiber shows.

Since 2000 Karen has worked with ceramist husband Marc Jenesel to create one-of-a-kind sculptural pieces in clay, fiber, metal, stone and other materials. Karen and Marc have participated in regional and national exhibitions and have had images and articles published in The Crafts Report; Shuttle, Spindle and Dyepot; and 500 Baskets.

Karen was an invited speaker at Colorado Weavers Day 2016 and is a member of the National Basketry Organization and the Handweavers Guild of America.

Artist Statement

I use traditional basket weaving techniques and materials from around the world in unconventional ways to create one-of-a-kind pieces. I weave free hand without molds and color the fibers with dye or paint.

The shapes and colors of the pieces that Marc creates have the greatest influence on my work in fiber. The challenge for me is finding a way to complement the raku.

Weaving is a slow and rhythmic process that is like a form of meditation. As a piece grows I love to watch seemingly lifeless materials join to form a new body of their own with a unique look, touch and smell. Each piece tells me when it is "done".