Karen J. Safer

Karen June Safer, also known as Karina, Karen Safer-Polich (born February 2, 1951, Aquarian sun/Scorpio rising), is a photographic artist, writer, poet, journaler, and traveler.

Early life and education

Safer is a fifth-generation native Angelino, born to LA Educators Henry Edward Safer and Gladys Mooradian Safer in Los Angeles, California, on Hope Street. She started traveling nationally and internationally in her pre-teens which stimulated and ignited a passion and predilection for art, architecture, words, philosophy, and an expansive worldview. While growing up, she was exposed to dominant California motifs: light, palm trees, the ocean, music, and vernacular architecture that helped define and influence her left-handed aesthetic. She was greatly influenced by her mother's quest for knowledge and travel and her dad's calligraphic and photographic avocations; he developed black-and-white photos in their laundry room laundry turned darkroom.

She completed her Associated Arts Degree as a Fine Arts Major with a music minor (voice and piano) from Santa Monica College in 1972. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Art History from the University of California, Los Angeles (cum laude 1974), where she studied under John Divola, a contemporary photographer and professor in the art department at the University of California Riverside. She received a Master of Arts in Art/Architectural History from California State University, Long Beach (4.0 scholastic honors 1981). She studied under the direction of Dr. Joseph Krause. Her thesis was titled The Function of Decoration in the American Movie Palace (Phi Delta Kappa; 4.0 summa cum laude). Initially, she studied the artwork of Richard Diebenkorn's while working as a graduate assistant at CSULB. She also worked as a slide curator, gallery assistant, and contributor on exhibition catalogs, including one for a Wayne Thiebaud show.

She received her first camera around age ten and began photographing family and friend events. By the time she entered college, she had her first SLR and was photographing Los Angeles urban sites and, when traveling the world, world sites. She also worked at different places, including department store clerk and manager, display manager, and later architectural photographer, teaching assistant, curator, research assistant, product photographer, architectural and photographic researcher, graphic artist, and gallery assistant. She began exhibiting her photographic work in Long Beach galleries at the university in the early 1980s. She started writing poetry at age 13 while traveling in Europe and began submitting her articles, writing, and poetry to numerous professional publications.

Career

From 1982 to 1983, Safer served as the Vice President of the Southern California Chapter of the Historical Society of Long Beach, California. She also worked as a graphic artist and Creative Corporate Communications Director for May Company California, Central Display.

Safer honed her photographic skills when she shifted her master's major to architecture and Los Angeles in the 1980s. While working at design firms, she focused on LA architecture and its urban landscape and began exhibiting her architectural images at that time.

In 1985, Safer became Assistant Art Gallery Director at Roy Boyd Gallery in La Brea, Los Angeles.

From 1985 to 1986, Safer was the Director of Communications/Public Relations at Skidmore Owings & Merrill, an award-winning, world-famous, international architectural firm, where she was responsible for establishing and directing all aspects of the business development department, including marketing, public relations, and media materials for publication, photography, presentations, and proposals; development of slide resources library.

From 1986 to 1991, Safer was the Creative Director of Marketing at the internationally recognized firm Altoon & Porter Architects, where she helped establish their high profile.

From 1992 to 1998, she was a Studio and Marketing Director at the award-winning Venice graphic design firm Kimberly Baer Design Associates.

Since 1997, she has been the Principle and Creative Director of ArtFocus International & KJS Productions.

Safer is committed to photographing world sites and produces color, black & white, and new digital prints. She infuses many of her photographic images with oil paint to create original hand-colored prints. As a gold Travelers' Century Club member, Safer has traveled to more than 232 countries and territories and received the International Travel 100 Nations Award. She has experienced diverse cultures, researched world histories, and photographed urban and rural architecture and cityscapes, historic sites, nature, and coastal regions worldwide, including Africa, Asia, South East Asia, India, Sri Lanka, Europe, the Mediterranean, Turkey, The Holy Land, The Middle East & Levant, Iraq, South America, Central America, Mexico, the Caribbean and Pacific, Atlantic and South Pacific, North America, California, Los Angeles metropolitan area and Playa del Rey. Her work has been exhibited in London, Glasgow, Budapest, Athens, Rome, Zurich, Sarajevo, Canada, and in multiple states in the United States, including California, Florida and New York, and New Jersey, and cities such as Boston, Baltimore, Portland, Santa Fe, Cape Cod, Louisville, etc. The Los Angeles Artists Association Gallery in Los Angeles has also represented her artwork.

She is currently a member of the Los Angeles Art Association, LA Center of Photography, Praxis Photo Gallery, as well as the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA 1979), a 50-year supporting member of Los Angeles County Museum of Art (since 1972), and is a member of IAA-USA, UCLA & CSULB Alumni Associations, and Friends of Ballona Creek; in Playa del Rey wetlands.

She has been a member of the Society of Architectural Historians, Society of Marketing Professional Services, Friends of Photography, Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, Women in Photography, Women in the Arts, International Society of Poets, and a longtime supporter of the LA Music Center/Los Angeles Opera, The London Royal Arts Academy (art gallery) and a supporting member of the Pacific Residence Theater in Venice, CA since the 1980s.

She has guest lectured at Cruise Ships (2004-2010), Rotary Club (2003), Long Beach City College (1981), CSULB (May 1980);, S. Calif Chapter of American Studies Association Annual Conference, CSULB (May 1980), Santa Monica College, (1979 and 1985), and CSULB (Spring 1979).

Philanthropy

Carroll Avenue docent (Safer Angelino Heights family home from the 1920s-1980s); Venice Skills Center, Taught English, 1991; LA Children's Museum, 1991; United Cerebral Palsy Center, Culver City, 2003; Venice Arts Center, Mentor, 2014. Founding member of LA's Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA) and 50-year member of LACMA and for decades, has supported and contributed to over 50+ national and international charities, organizations, institutions, humanitarian causes, and other philanthropic endeavors for the arts, education, and health. She is a longtime supporter of the Los Angeles Public Library, US Parks, Ballona Wetlands, Meals on Wheels, Smile Train, St. Jude, KCRW, KCET, and Pacific Resident Theatre, to name a few.

Publications

Books

Unpublished 120+ travel journals, 430+ photo essay books, and Karina-isms

• At the Ledge – Poetry by Karina, Lulu Publication December 2009 – copy in Los Angeles Central Library
• Beyond the Ledge – Poetry by Karina, Lulu Publication April 2010 – copy in Los Angeles Central Library

Selected Published Poems

• "For Love of Country," Deros (Miriam Press, Virginia), Dec 1982;
• "Death?" Lyrical Treasures - Classical and Modern, Fine Arts Press, 1983;
• "Twisted," Up Against the Wall, Mother," March 1983;
• "Haunting Melodies," Up Against the Wall, Mother, May 1983;
• "High in My Tower," The American Muse: A Treasury of Lyric Poetry, 1984. National Library of Poetry:
• "Dangling Heart" (under Karina), A Voyage to Remember, 1996;
• "A Man from South America" 1998, Best Poems of 1998;
• "Wasted," Best Poems of 1998;
• "La Bella Luna" (Editor's Award), Dance Upon the Shore, 1997;
• "Down the Nile" 2001, The Sound of Poetry & Poetry's Elite: The Best Poets of 2000;
• "Wrapped in a Song" 2000, America at Millennium, Best Poems and Poets of 20th Century;
• "They Say...Free Bird," Promises of Love: The International Library of Poetry 2000;
• "LA in Paris," The Sound of Poetry, 2002 – Editor's Poetry Choice Awards 1997 & 2000 & 2001

Selected writing and articles

Unpublished Personal Journals and Travel Journals from 1964 to present

• "Domestic Architecture in Long Beach," Long Beach Review, May 1984;
• "The Functions of Decoration in the American Movie Palace," Society of Architectural Historians Review (w/photos), Winter 1984;
• "Decoration: A Re-examination of the Traditional and Historic Role of Decoration Relative to Twentieth Century Architecture," Society of Architectural Historians Review, Spring/Summer 1983;
• Long Beach Artists, Art Catalogue (editing), 1982; Long Beach Symphony Guild Design Homes, brochure, 1982;
• "The Functions of Decoration in the American Movie Palace," Marquee, (Journal of Theatre Historical Society), 1982;

Master's thesis

• "The Function of Decoration in the American Movie Palace," 1981; Wayne Thiebaud Retrospective Art Catalogue 1975-76, research & editing.

Exhibitions

In Photo Books/Catalogs, Magazines

2023 - 2024 Selected Exhibitions, Publications, Interviews, Honors

Safer has participated in 12 solo shows and 75 venues in over 300+ exhibitions, digital screen, online, virtual exhibitions, magazine articles, interviews and in books in the United States and Europe.

• AATONAU, Osaka, Japan

January 2024 – “Karen Safer: Crafting the Ocean’s Song,” Interview article by Ewan Shah

• ArtBox and ArtBox.Project, Zug, Switzerland

December 2023 – Casa del Arte Palma, Spain; Andakulova Gallery, Dubai January 2024 – Nicoleta Gallery, Berlin, Germany February 2024 – Thomson Gallery, Zug, Switzerland March 2024 - Andakulova Gallery, Dubai; Nicoleta Gallery, Berlin, Germany April 2024 – Biennale Venice, Cipriate Gallery, Venice, Italy June 2024 – Art Expo Basel – Switzerland

• Artavita Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA

Artist of the Year 2023 – Finalist

• Art Cave, Zurich, Switzerland

September 2022 - First Date

• Art Fluent, Boston, MA

October 2022 – UNITY

• Art Show International, Los Angeles, CA

July 2022 – February 2023 – 12 exhibits January 2023 - 3rd Water Exhibit, 5 Finalist Awards January 2023 – 6th Animal Exhibit, 4 Finalist Awards March 2023 – 8th Abstract, 1 Talent Award, 2 Honorable Mentions, 3 Finalists

• Art Room Contemporary Gallery, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

November 2022 – January 2024 – 19 exhibits January 2023 – 6th Color Exhibit, 3 Merit Awards January 2024 – 6th Black & White Exhibit, 4 Honorable Mentions February 2023 – OPEN Exhibit, 2 Honorable Mentions April 2023 – Yellow Exhibit, 2 Merit Awards April 2023 - 5th Portrait Exhibit, 3 Finalist Awards May 2023 – Grey Exhibit, 4 Merit Awards July 2023 – Textures & Patterns Exhibit, 5 Honorable Mentions August 2023 – Green Exhibit, 3 Honorable Mentions August – September 2023 – 3rd Blue Exhibit, 3 Honorable Mentions September – October 2023, 4th Faces Exhibit, 2 Honorable Mentions November 2023 – 1st Monochrome, 2 Honorable Mentions November 2023 – Skies Exhibit, 2 Honorable Mentions

• The Artist Gallery, New Mexico

March 2024 – Architecture 2024, Honorable Mention

• Artist Space Gallery, New York

November 2022 – January 2023 – 11 exhibiits

       November – December 2023 – 2nd Portrait Exhibit, 3 Winner Awards

• Artist Talk Magazine, UK

September 2023 – Magazine Vol. #27

• Artly Mix Cultural Space, Sao Paulo, Brazil

October 2023 – Nostalgia January 2024 – Ciclos April 2024 – Momentum

• Artio Art Gallery, Toronto, Canada

March 2024

• Arts & Crafts Cooperative, Berkeley, CA

September 2023 – WATER is SACRED

• ArtTour Magazine, New York, NY

January 2024 – Anniversary Issue, “Artists to Look For 2024”

• Black Box Gallery, Portland, OR

September 2020 – November 2023 – 7 exhibits

• Blank Wall Gallery, Athens, Greece

June 2023 – March 2024 – 6 exhibits

• Boomer Gallery, London, UK

August 2022 – May 2023 – 3 exhibits

• The Chateau Gallery, Louisville, KY

October 2022 – October 2023 – 2 exhibits

• Circle Foundation of the Arts, Lyon, France

Artist of the Year – Artist Excellence Award 2023/2024 World Wide Art Magazine, March 2024, Finalist April 2024 - ArtExpo, New York

• Collex Arts, Portland, ME

November 2022 - Ode to Ocean

• Culture Center Cape Cod, Cape Cod, MA

September 2020 – November 2023 – 2 exhibits

• Dodho Magazine, Barcelona, Spain

May 2023 – Portrait Photography Award Top 100 Finalist Award, magazine November 2023 – Color Awards 2023 – The Best Photographs, Finalist Award February 2024 – FINE ART – Top 100 Best Photographers 2023

• Effetto Arte Zone, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

January 2024 – Botticelli International Prize, Borghese Palace, Florence February 2024 – LA Art Show 2024, Special Art Marketing, Los Angeles

• FotoNostrum , Barcelona, Spain

2024 – 21st Julia Margaret Cameron 19 Awards (UK)

• Fusion Art Gallery, Santa Fe, NM (10 exhibits)

May – August 2023 - 8th Artist’s Choice – 2nd Place Award & Finalist June – Sept 2023 – 5th Lines, Shapes & Objects Exhibit, Artistic Excellence & Finalist June – Sept 2023 – 4th Still Life Exhibit, Honorable Mention & Finalist July – August 2023 – 7th Skies Exhibit, 3rd Place & Finalists September – October 2023 – 9th Leaves & Petals exhibit, Honorable Mention September – December 2023 – 6th Women Artists, Honorable Mention October 2023 – 9th Figures & Faces, Honorable Mention & Finalist January 2024 – 9th Colorful Abstraction Exhibit, Finalist Award February 2024 – 8th Cityscape Exhibit, 2 Finalists April 2024 – 8th Black & White exhibit – Honorable Mention & Finalist

• Gallerium, Exhibizone Gallery, Canada

August 2022 – February 2024 – 22 exhibits

• Gallery 4 Percent, San Francisco, CA

October 2023 – 1st Faces & Features, Distinction Award November 2023 – Living Breathing Animals, Distinction Award December 2023 – Anything & Everything, 2 Distinction Awards January 2024 – Just in Time Exhibit, 1 Distinction & 3 Laurel Awards January 2024 – 2nd Floral & Botanicals, Distinction Award February 2024 – 2nd Faces & Features, Distinction Award March 2024 – Abstract – Laurel Award

• Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Glasgow, Scotland, UK

July 2020 – July 2024 – 25 exhibits

• Grey Cube Gallery

January - February 2023 – Portrait Exhibit, Finalist February 2023 – 3rd 2 Abstract, Honorable Mention May 2023 – Colors, 3 Honorable Mentions June 2023 – Botanicals, 3 Honorable Mentions July 2023 – Waters, 3 Honorable Mentions July 2023 – FACES, 2 Honorable Mentions September 2023 – Monochrome Exhibit, 3 Merit Awards September 2023 – 3rd Yellow Exhibit, 2 Honorable Mentions January 2024 – 3rd Painting & Photography Show, 4 Finalist Awards January – March 2024 – Portraits Exhibit, 4 Honorable Mentions March 2024 – 2024 Black & White, 5 Honorable Mentions

• The Holly Art Gallery, London, UK

August 2021 – April 2024 – 14 exhibits November 2022 – Best American Artists 2022 July-August 2023 – Art on Loop: Amsterdam, Belgium & Paris October 2023 – Art on Loop: New York, NY August 2023 – Art on Loop: Paros, Greece September 2023 – Art on Loop: Milan, Italy October 2023 – OPEN: California Dreaming, Athens, Greece December 2023 – Best American Artist 2023, London, UK December 2023 – Art on Loop Berlin, Germany January 2024 – IDENTITY, New York, NY March 2024 – Art on Loop, New York, NY April 2024 – Art on Loop, Paris, France

• Hummingbird & Dragon Gallery, Riverside, CA

November 2023 – Small Wonders

• HMVC New York Gallery, New York, NY

October 2022 – March 2024 – 17 exhibits

• Influx Gallery, Notting Hill, London, UK

January 2024 – Perpetual

• Julia Margaret Cameron 21st Awards, UK

FotoNostrum Mediterranean House of Photography, Barcelona, Spain, April 2024 First Winner Single for Abstract and Architecture, 5 Honorable Mentions; 2 non-pro Series Honorable Mentions = TOTAL 19 Awards

• Kavanagh Gallery, St. Charles, IL

February 2023 – Celebrating Women

• KBM Gallery, Riverside, CA

February 2024 – RED March 2024 – Green

LA ART SHOW – February 2024 – LA Art Show 2024 – Effetto Award

• Las Laguna Art Gallery, Laguna Beach, CA

November 2023 – FLASH POINT January 2024 – Black, White or Gray 2024 March 2024 – Women in Art

• Los Angeles Art Association, Los Angeles, CA

November 2021-February 2024 – 34 Exhibits July 2023 – Specimen (In Gallery) May 2024 – CrackerJack (In Gallery)

• Los Angeles Center of Photography, Los Angeles, CA

May 2023 – Thresholds: Street Photography Now Exhibit, Honorable Mention May 2024 – Thresholds 2024: Photography & Urban Architecture, Honorable Mention

• Light Space & Time Gallery, Santa Fe, NM – 10 exhibits

February 2023 – All Women Exhibit, Special Merit and Special Recognition Awards March 2023 – 13th Cityscapes Exhibit, Honorable Mention, Special Recognition April 2023 – 14th Abstracts, 3rd Place Overall, 2nd Place Photo/Digital, Special Merit August 2023 – 5th Primary Colors, Special Merit and Special Recognition awards February 2024 – 14th Botanicals, Top 20 Photography & Digital Artists Honorable Mention

• Motif Collective Gallery, Fernandina, Florida

July 2022 – January 2024 – 15 Exhibits November 2023 – Architecture 2023 Exhibit, Shortlist Winner December 2023 – Silhouette Exhibit, Short List Award

Naturalist Gallery Contemporary Art October 2023 – Landscape

• New Jersey International Forum – Watchung Arts Center

November 2022 – Award of Merit

• New York Center for Photographic Art (NYC4PA), New York, NY

August 2023 – ONE 2023, Honorable Mention October 2023 – Abstract Exhibit, Juror’s Selection March 2024 – Colors of the Commonplace, 3rd Place Award

O’Hanion Center for the Arts, Mill Valley, CA May 2023 – IN Sight

Omnibus Gallery, Dresden, Germany October 2023 – Colorful

• One Eyeland Gallery, Chennai, India

Summer 2023 – Best of the Best 2023 Photographers - Book February 2024 - 10 Top Photographers - Travel Award Parallax Women’s Photo Exhibit Gormely Gallery, Baltimore, MD October 2022 Women’s Exhibit

Part Crowd Gallery, Toronto, Canada February 2024 – The Divorce

• PH21 Photography Gallery, Budapest, Hungary

October 22 – April 2024 – 20 exhibits March-April 2023 – Sunlight in Café, Honourable Mention

• 1st Prague International Art Exhibition, Czech Republic

May-June 2023 – Open Exhibit, Director’s Award

• Praxis Photo Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN – 13 exhibits

August 2022 – OPEN November 2022 – Black & White January 2023 – Empty Places: Abandoned Spaces March 2023 – Member Showcase May 2023 – Shadow Aspect August – September 2023 – The Streets Exhibit, Honorable Mention September 2023 – Found Objects January 2024 – HOME February 2024 – OPEN February 2024 – Member Showcase March 2024 – Black & White March 2024 – The Life of Color

• Sasse Art Museum, Pomona, CA

Winter 2022 - SeeMe (catalog) December 2024 – The Art of the Word (catalog)

• SE Center for Photography, Greenville, SC

March 2023 – Women by Women May 2023 – Architecture September 2023 – FORGOTTEN November 2023 – Contemporary Landscape

• SPIDER Awards, Beverly Hills, CA

November 2023 - 18th Black & White Spider Awards, 4 Nominees

• Spotlight Magazine (Circle Arts), Lyon, France

October 2023 – Spotlight Magazine Vol. 35

• The Artists Gallery (TAG), Los Angeles, CA

December 2022 – LA Angeles Exhibit July 2023 – Made in USA: Freedom of Expression January 2024 – 2024 LA OPEN (catalog)

• TeraVarna Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

April-May 2023 - 7th Open, 1 Talent & 3 Honorable Mentions May 2023 – 7th Landscape Exhibit, 3 Honorable Mentions June 2023 – 9th Abstract Exhibit, Talent Award July 2023 – 6th Flowers Exhibit, Honorable Mention August 2023 – 6th Figurative Exhibit, 5 Honorable Mentions August – September – 4th Water Exhibit, 2 Honorable Mentions September 2023 – 6th Color Exhibit, 2 Honorable Mentions October 2023 – Superfine Art Fair, LA, Finalist January 2024 – Open Exhibit, 4 Finalist Awards February 2024 – 6th Still Life Exhibit, 8 Finalists March 2024 – Landscape – 4 Honorable Mentions

• Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tokyo Japan

June 2024 – Art Exchange - USA, Julienne Johnson Production

• Wailoa Center, Hilo, Hawaii

February 2023 - Light & Shadow

Webster arts Center, St. Louis, MO March 2023 - Wanderlust

• whitecube contemporary gallery, Chicago, IL

October-November 2023 – RED

• Women United Magazine, Czech Republic

August 2023 Vol. V Stronger Together Article Winter 2024 Vol. VI

2022

• "All the Blues of Greenland," Gallerium Art Exhibitions -Biafarin - AQUA 2022 Exhibit, Ontario, Canada, 273 artworks.
• "Lanzarote View," The Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Glasgow, Scotland, Theme: End of Year, December 2022.
• "Dreaming in Lamu," & "Another Day in Hajaf," Los Angeles Artist Association Vol. 4 Cat., August 2022;
• 'Corn Stand," Vision: Color Photography Exhibition, Black Box Gallery, Portland, Seattle, December 2022, online gallery, catalog;
• · "Bent Steel," Black & White Exhibit, Praxis Photo Art Center, St. Paul, Minn., November 19-December 3, 2022, in the gallery, online, and catalog;
• "Street Art: Saipan Store," Black Box Gallery, Portland, Oregon, Exhibition: Photo Shoot: 2022, in gallery October 2022, in gallery and catalog;
• "Faded Blue Door, Yemen," "Old Saudi Window," The Holy Art presents Contemporary 4th Edition in Boomer Gallery, at Tower Bridge, Central London, November 2022. E-catalog;
• "Call to Prayer," PH21 Photography Gallery, Budapest, Hungary, Theme: Portraits with No Faces, Curated International Exhibition in the gallery, online and book, October 20-November 12, 2022;
• "Portofino Aprons," Exhibizone – Grand Prize 2022 Catalogue – Group Exhibition; 191 artworks, September 2022;
• "Namibian Desert: Palm or Pineapple? Biafarin Online Exhibition, Gallerium Art, Planetarium 2022, international online group exhibition, Ottawa, Canada, September 15, 2022, exhibition catalog and The Book of Arts publication;
• "Sheer Light," Black Box Gallery, Portland, Oregon, Focus: Shadow and Light Exhibit, On-Line Annex and catalog, September 2022;
• "Excess: Spices of Life" (photo collage), "Realities Vary: 2 Different LA's 2022 (photo diptych) Holy Art Gallery, The New Artist 3rd Ed, Boomer Gallery at Tower Bridge, Central London, UK, August 2022 in the gallery & virtual and catalog;
• "Pink Donut Hoodie, 2021," Sasse Museum of Art, Catalog, Pomona, CA SeeMe Exhibit (self-portraits), August-September 2022;
• "Merv" (Turkmenistan), "Mozambique Island," Out of the Frame photobook, Glasgow Gallery of Photography, Scotland, August 2022;
• "Sheer Light" and "Marigold Wall in Gorée," OPEN THEME Exhibit, Praxis Photo Art Center, St. Paul, Minn., August 27–September 10, 2022, in the gallery, book, and digital.

LAAA 825 Gallery, Los Angeles Exhibits, and Others

• 1 “African Suite: Togo Voodoo,” Full Bodied Exhibit, 825 Gallery LAAA, LA, Nov. 2021
• 2 “Serenissima Jazz,” Aurora Exhibit, 825 Gallery LAAA, LA, Dec 2021
• 3 “Sheer Light,” Penumbra Exhibit, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, Jan 2022
• 4 “Series: Where Did They Go?: Through Le Siq,” Fact-Finding Exhibit, 825 Gallery LAAA, LA, Jan-Feb 2022
• 5 “Flower Series: White Rose,” Factory Fresh Exhibit, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, March 2022
• 6 "LA Realities Vary: Two Different Realities" Gleaming Apollo Exhibit, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, March 2022

&7“Embellished Me: Jodhpur Dancer,” Adorn Exhibit, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, April 2022

• 8 “Behind the Crimson Curtain,” Small Time Exhibit, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, May 2022
• 9 “African Suite: Dreaming Lamu/Kairouan,” Mannerist Exhibit, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, June 2022
• 10 “Excess: Spice of Life,” Lingering Feast Exhibit, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, July 2022
• 11 “Namibia Desert: Palm or Pineapple,” Roots & Branch, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, August 2022
• 12 “Sassy Sicilian Frivolity, Celafu,” Festoon Exhibit, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, Aug-Sept 2022
• 13 “Secret Rendezvous,” Undisclosed Locations Exhibit, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, Sept 17-Oct 9, 2022
• 14 “Inner Mantra: Always Twirling,” Interiority Exhibit, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, Oct. 16-22, 2022
• 15 “Double Gen X,” Hurly Burly Exhibit, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, Nov 12-25, 2022
• 16 “What Lies Beyond the Harem Screen?” LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, Dec. 17- 31, 2022
• 17 “Bent Stainless Steel,” Applied Science, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, Jan 7-27, 2023
• 18 “Shy Seine Lover,” COY Exhibit, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, Feb. 11 Mar 3, 2023
• 19 “Little Buddha Box,” Small Time Exhibit, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, Mar 11-31, 2023
• 20 “Give Them A Big Hand,” Non Sequitur Exhibit, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, April 1-28, 2023
• 21 “Turkish Delights,” Confection, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, April 29 – May 26, 2023
• 22 “Unplugged & Disconnected,” Informationary, LAAA 825 Gallery, LA, May 27 – June 23, 2023
• 23 “1959 Original Bathing Beauty,” Full-Bodies Exhibition, LAAA 825 Gallery, June 24-July 14, 2023
• 24 “Arrecife Abandoned,” Specimen, LAAA 825 Gallery (in gallery), July 8 – 28, 2023
• 25 “Words – Love Life Art,” (photo collage) Words on Printed Page, LAAA 825 Gallery, August 12 – September 1, 2023
• 26 “Sacred Stone Heart,” Foolish Game, LAAA 825 Gallery, September 16 – October 16, 2023
• 27 “New Baroque: Melk Spiraling Into Gehry,” New Baroque, LAAA 825 Gallery, October 14-Nov 10, 2023
• 28 “Brilliant Skies,” Aurora, LAAA 825 Gallery, October 14 – November 10, 2023
• 29 “Singapore Shuffle,” Aurora, LAAA 825 Gallery, January 6 – 26, 2024
• 30 “Waiting for Spring,” SMALL TIME, LAAA 825 Gallery, January 27 – February 16, 2024
• 31 “Door of No Return,” REPUTED, LAAA 825 Gallery, February 17 – March 15, 2024
• 32 “LA POP – Big Donut,” POP Uber Alle (above all), LAAA 825 Gallery, March 16 – April 5, 2024
• 33 “Iraqi Scorched Fields,” TURF, LAAA 825 Gallery, April 6 – 26, 2024
• 34 “American Coffee Shop,” CrackerJack, in 827 Gallery, May 4-June 4, 2024

Early Selected Art Exhibitions & Collections:

• Assemblage Piece (w/Chris Madans), Funnel Mill Café, Santa Monica, 2009-present;
• "Rice Market, Laos," Montreal Botanical Garden (permanent collection), May 2008-on-going;
• "Unselfish Acts," Upstairs Gallery, LA Cultural Affairs Dept., Los Angeles, December 2007;
• "World in Focus," PDN PhotoPlus International Expo, Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, New York, October 2007;
• "Burmese Images," Le California Vener Shee Gallery, Quebec, Canada, August 2007;
• "Italian, Cuban and World Images," CatchLight, Marina del Rey, 2004-2006;
• "Recent Images of Italy, Greece & The Balkans, and Cuba" 316 ½ Culver, Playa del Rey, November 2003-2006;
• "Voyages," (Cuban Images), Keller Williams Realty, September 2003;
• "Art Meets Architecture," Flight of Courage Foundation, Venice Loft, Venice, CA, June 2002;
• "Coastlines & Architecture" and "Water & Architecture," 316 1/2 Culver, Playa del Rey, April 2001-2003;
• "Salerno Beach," Permanent Collection, Cantalini's, Playa del Rey, CA 2000;
• "New Italian Images," Milan's, 2000, Playa del Rey;
• "Painted World Views," Mad Gallery, Playa del Rey, Ca 2000;
• "Karina's Italian Views," Milan's, Playa del Rey, CA 2000;
• UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, permanent collection, 1998-present;
• Café Milan, "Italian Images by Karina," 2000, Playa del Rey;
• Women in Photography Celebrates Freedom, LA Photography Center, 1992;
• "Group Watercolor Show," Ricci Stevenson Studio, 1986 Venice;
• "Passages & Interchange," K Safer photo exhibition: Italy, 1984;
• Art Matrix, Long Beach; "Member's Exhibition," Art Matrix, Long Beach;
• "Fine Arts & Crafts Exhibition," 1983 Shakti Gallery, Long Beach;
• "Added-On Ornament," University Art Museum, CSULB, Long Beach;
• "Art & Crafts Exhibition," Long Beach Municipal Gallery, Long Beach;
• "Double Visions: Long Beach," Metro Space Gallery,
• "The Art of Racing," Long Beach Gallery 1982

Recognition

Safer is listed in Marquis Who's Who in America and Who's Who in Professional Women in 2023; Biography International as Karen June Safer-Polich (International Biographical Centre, Cambridge, England), 1985-86; The World Who's Who of Women, 1983; Who's Who in the West, 1982-83 (listed as Karen June Safer Polich), 1983-84; Scholastic Honors Phi Delta Kappa (4.0).

Safer is a gold Travelers' 100 Club member visiting over 230 countries and territories and international travel 100 nations.

2022-2023 Selected Awards

Safer has received over 100+ national and international awards for photography and poetry.

• AATONAU, Osaka, Japan

January 2024 – “Karen Safer: Crafting the Ocean’s Song,” Interview article by Ewan Shah https://aatonau.com/karen-safer-crafting-the-oceans-song/

• Artavita Gallery, Santa Barbara, CA

Artist of the Year 2023 – Finalist

• Art Show International, Los Angeles, CA

January 2023 - 3rd Water Exhibit, 5 Finalist Awards January 2023 – 6th Animal Exhibit, 4 Finalist Awards March 2023 – 8th Abstract, 1 Talent Award, 2 Honorable Mentions, 3 Finalists

• Art Room Contemporary Gallery, Sarajevo, Bosnia & Herzegovina

January 2023 – 6th Color Exhibit, 3 Merit Awards January 2024 – 6th Black & White Exhibit, 4 Honorable Mentions February 2023 – OPEN Exhibit, 2 Honorable Mentions April 2023 – Yellow Exhibit, 2 Merit Awards April 2023 - 5th Portrait Exhibit, 3 Finalist Awards May 2023 – Grey Exhibit, 4 Merit Awards July 2023 – Textures & Patterns Exhibit, 5 Honorable Mentions August 2023 – Green Exhibit, 3 Honorable Mentions August – September 2023 – 3rd Blue Exhibit, 3 Honorable Mentions September – October 2023, 4th Faces Exhibit, 2 Honorable Mentions November 2023 – 1st Monochrome, 2 Honorable Mentions November 2023 – Skies Exhibit, 2 Honorable Mentions December 2023 – Trees & Fields Exhibit, 3 Honorable Mentions January 2024 – 6th Colors Show, 4 Finalists January-February 2024 – 8th Black & White Exhibit, 5 Honorable Mentions

• Artist Space Gallery, New York

November – December 2023 – 2nd Portrait Exhibit, 3 Winner Awards

• Artist Talk Magazine, UK

September 2023 – Magazine Vol. #27

• ArtTour Magazine, New York, NY

January 2024 – Anniversary Issue, “Artists to Look For 2024”

• Circle Foundation of the Arts, Lyon, France

Artist of the Year – Artist Excellence Award 2023/2024 November 2022 - Ode to Ocean

• Docu Magazine Vol. 49, Espoo, Finland, 2023

• Dodho Magazine, Barcelona, Spain

May 2023 – Portrait Photography Award Top 100 Finalist Award, magazine November 2023 – Color Awards 2023 – The Best Photographs, Finalist Award February 2024 – FINE ART – Top 100 Best Photographers 2023

• Effetto Arte Zone, Palermo, Sicily, Italy

January 2024 – Botticelli International Prize, Borghese Palace, Florence February 2024 – LA Art Show 2024, Special Art Marketing, Los Angeles

• Fusion Art Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

May – August 2023 - 8th Artist’s Choice – 2nd Place Award & Finalist June – Sept 2023 – 5th Lines, Shapes & Objects Exhibit, Artistic Excellence & Finalist June – Sept 2023 – 4th Still Life Exhibit, Honorable Mention & Finalist July – August 2023 – 7th Skies Exhibit, 3rd Place & Finalists September – October 2023 – 9th Leaves & Petals exhibit, Honorable Mention September – December 2023 – 6th Women Artists, Honorable Mention October 2023 – 9th Figures & Faces, Honorable Mention & Finalist January 2024 – 9th Colorful Abstraction Exhibit, Finalist Award February 2024 – 8th Cityscape Exhibit, 2 Finalists

• Gallery 4 Percent, San Francisco, CA

October 2023 – 1st Faces & Features, Distinction Award November 2023 – Living Breathing Animals, Distinction Award December 2023 – Anything & Everything, 2 Distinction Awards January 2024 – Just in Time Exhibit, 1 Distinction & 3 Laurel Awards January 2024 – 2nd Floral & Botanicals, Distinction Award February 2024 – 2nd Faces & Features, Distinction Award

• Grey Cube Gallery

January - February 2023 – Portrait Exhibit, Finalist February 2023 – 3rd 2 Abstract, Honorable Mention May 2023 – Colors, 3 Honorable Mentions June 2023 – Botanicals, 3 Honorable Mentions July 2023 – Waters, 3 Honorable Mentions July 2023 – FACES, 2 Honorable Mentions September 2023 – Monochrome Exhibit, 3 Merit Awards September 2023 – 3rd Yellow Exhibit, 2 Honorable Mentions January 2024 – 3rd Painting & Photography Show, 4 Finalist Awards January – March 2024 – Portraits Exhibit, 4 Honorable Mentions

• The Holly Art Gallery, London, UK

August 2021 – April 2024 – 14 exhibits November 2022 – Best American Artists 2022 July-August 2023 – Art on Loop: Amsterdam, Belgium & Paris October 2023 – Art on Loop: New York, NY August 2023 – Art on Loop: Paros, Greece September 2023 – Art on Loop: Milan, Italy October 2023 – OPEN: California Dreaming, Athens, Greece December 2023 – Best American Artist 2023, London, UK December 2023 – Art on Loop Berlin, Germany January 2024 – IDENTITY, New York, NY March 2024 – Art on Loop, New York, NY April 2024 – Art on Loop, Paris, France

• Julia Margaret Cameron 21st Awards, UK

FotoNostrum Mediterranean House of Photography, Barcelona, Spain, April 2024 First Winner Single for Abstract and Architecture, 5 Honorable Mentions; 2 non-pro Series Honorable Mentions = TOTAL 19 Awards

• Los Angeles Center of Photography, Los Angeles, CA

May 2023 – Thresholds: Street Photography Now Exhibit, Honorable Mention

• Light Space & Time Gallery, Santa Fe, NM

February 2023 – All Women Exhibit, Special Merit and Special Recognition Awards March 2023 – 13th Cityscapes Exhibit, Honorable Mention, Special Recognition April 2023 – 14th Abstracts, 3rd Place Overall, 2nd Place Photo/Digital, Special Merit August 2023 – 5th Primary Colors, Special Merit and Special Recognition awards February 2024 – 14th Botanicals, Top 20 Photography & Digital Artists Honorable Mention

• Motif Collective Gallery, Fernandina, Florida

July 2022 – January 2024 – 15 Exhibits November 2023 – Architecture 2023 Exhibit, Shortlist Winner December 2023 – Silhouette Exhibit, Short List Award

• New York Center for Photographic Art (NYC4PA), New York, NY

August 2023 – ONE 2023, Honorable Mention October 2023 – Abstract Exhibit, Juror’s Selection March 2024 – Colors of the Commonplace, 3rd Place Award

• One Eyeland Gallery, Chennai, India

Summer 2023 – Best of the Best 2023 Photographers - Book

• PH21 Photography Gallery, Budapest, Hungary

March-April 2023 – Sunlight in Café, Honourable Mention

• 1st Prague International Art Exhibition, Czech Republic

May-June 2023 – Open Exhibit, Director’s Award

• Praxis Photo Arts Center, Minneapolis, MN

August – September 2023 – The Streets Exhibit, Honorable Mention

• Sasse Art Museum, Pomona, CA

Winter 2022 - SeeMe (catalog) December 2024 – The Art of the Word (catalog)

• SE Center for Photography, Greenville, SC

March 2023 – Women by Women May 2023 – Architecture September 2023 – FORGOTTEN November 2023 – Contemporary Landscape

• SPIDER Awards, Beverly Hills, CA

November 2023 - 18th Black & White Spider Awards, 4 Nominees

• Spotlight Magazine (Circle Arts), Lyon, France

October 2023 – Spotlight Magazine Vol. 35

• TeraVarna Gallery, Los Angeles, CA

April-May 2023 - 7th Open, 1 Talent & 3 Honorable Mentions May 2023 – 7th Landscape Exhibit, 3 Honorable Mentions June 2023 – 9th Abstract Exhibit, Talent Award July 2023 – 6th Flowers Exhibit, Honorable Mention August 2023 – 6th Figurative Exhibit, 5 Honorable Mentions August – September – 4th Water Exhibit, 2 Honorable Mentions September 2023 – 6th Color Exhibit, 2 Honorable Mentions October 2023 – Superfine Art Fair, LA, Finalist January 2024 – Open Exhibit, 4 Finalist Awards February 2024 – 6th Still Life Exhibit, 8 Finalists

• Tokyo Metropolitan Museum of Art, Tokyo Japan

June 2024 – Art Exchange - USA, Julienne Johnson Production

• Women United Magazine, Czech Republic

August 2023 Vol. V Stronger Together Article Winter 2024 Vol. VI

Personal life

Safer is a 5th-generation Angelino of Assyrian, Armenian, and Italian descent whose early Christian family church dates back to the 2nd century CE in eastern Turkey, where they emigrated to the USA in the 1890s. Safer visited the ancient town of Harput, Turkey 2006, where her family originated. Here ancestors were merchants on the ancient Silk Routes of Asia. Safer's great Uncle, Chavoor, brought Jack Warner to Los Angeles in 1905 to form Warner Brothers Studios; many family members have worked for Warner Brothers. Her paternal grandfather worked on Mack Sennett films and became an inventor, attributed with helping to create cranes and booms for movie sets. Her paternal grandfather had restaurants in Boston, San Francisco, and Sunset in Los Angeles; the family resided in an original 1880s Victorian home on Carroll Avenue in Angelino Heights.

Safer is the niece of Louis T. Safer, a prominent artist, violinist, and Art Professor Emeritus of the University of Minnesota (since the mid-1950s) who has exhibited widely and has paintings in the National Portrait Gallery of Washington D.C. He studied under mentor Stanton McDonald Wright at UCLA as a disciple of synchronism. The Henry E. Safer Scholarship was established to honor Safer's dedication to education in Los Angeles.

Safer is the widow of Frank Alin Polich and currently resides in Playa del Rey, California.

REFERENCES

• March 2023 - Karen Safer – Photography - Who’s Who in Professional Women 2023 - https://whoswhoofprofessionalwomen.com/karen-safer/

• 2023- 2024 Women United Art Movement - https://www.womenunitedartmovement.com/artistdirectory/karen-safer

• 2023 Mutual Art – Karen Safer - https://www.mutualart.com/Artist/Karen-Safer/9FE1781C632F45EE/Biography

• 2023 Artwork Archive – Karen Safer - https://www.artworkarchive.com/profile/laslagunaartgallery/artist/karen-safer

• 2024 Art Tour Magazine, Winter Issue, Artists to Look for 2024. https://www.arttourinternational.com/publications/2024-winter-issue/

• Docu Magazine Vol. 49, Finland, 2023

• Spotlight Magazine Vol. 35 (Circle Arts, France), October 2023