Karen Smittle was born and raised in Corpus Christi, Texas, and graduated Summa Cum Laude with a degree in painting from Corpus Christi State University (now Texas A & M Corpus Christi). It was along the Texas coast, where the landscape can be flat and non-descript, that Smittle was first drawn to the vibrant colors of the sky and sea. Her work has been featured in numerous museum and gallery shows around the country and is included in many corporate and private collections.


SELECTED EXHIBITIONS
2012
“Sarasota Art and Craft Show” - Sarasota, Florida
2011
“Janine Contemporary Group Exhibit” - Santa Fe, New Mexico
2005
"Jezebel's Ball," Jezebel Gallery - Santa Fe, New Mexico
2004
"Celestial Southwest," Solo Exhibition, Jezebel Gallery - Santa Fe, New Mexico
2003
"Three Artists of Etheric Beauty," Jezebel Gallery - Santa Fe, New Mexico
"Featured Artists-Karen Smittle and Charles McBride White," Dragonfly Gallery - Atlanta, Georgia
2002
"Big Mix," Hanson Gallery - Knoxville, Tennessee
2001
"Gallery Mix," Hanson Gallery - Knoxville, Tennessee
"Landscapes," Hanson Gallery - Knoxville, Tennessee
1998
"Seventh Annual Missouri Top Fifty," Juror: Elizabeth Sussman, Director of Curatorial Research,
Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, New York; Fine Arts Gallery - Sedalia, Missouri
1994
"Glass by Dick Burkhalter, Pastels by Karen Smittle," Patio Azul Gallery - Sedona, Arizona
1992-93
"The Art of Pastel: Fourth Biennial National Exhibition and Museum Tour," (Illus. Catalog),
Museum of the Americas - New Orleans, Louisiana
Lauren Rogers Museum of Art - Laural, Mississippi
Meadows Museum of Art - Shreveport, Louisiana
1992
"Contemporary Texas Landscapes," Hill Country Arts Foundation Invitational Exhibition,
Duncan-McAshan Visual Arts Center - Ingran, Texas
1991
"Target: South Texas / The World Outside" (Illus. Catalog), Curated by Margaret Gillham - Curator, Art Museum of South Texas - Corpus Christi, Texas
1989
"Women and Their Art - A Juried Exhibiton in Celebration of International Women's Day"
Jurors: Lin Nelson-Mason, Curator-Art Museum of south Texas; Jerri Crabb, Art Director-Corpus Christi Museum; Mark Anderson, Art Professor-Corpus Christi State University
Galleria Chaparral - Corpus Christi, Texas
1986
"3rd Annual National Exhibit for Pastels Only" (Illus. Catalog), Juror: Flora Giffuni, President-Pastel Society of America; Wichita, Kansas

COLLECTIONS and COMMISSIONS

Emboss Graphics - Naperville, Illinois
Offices of Dr. Eric Ingham - Knoxville, Tennessee
Louis Ballard, 3M Corporation - St. Louis, Missouri
American Airlines, Robert Mueller Airport - Austin, Texas
Horizons Savings and Loan - Austin, Texas
Offices of Dr. Robert C. Cody - Corpus Christi, Texas
Whitley and Anne Streiber, Authors - New York, New York
Water Street Market - Corpus Christi, Texas
Ship Ahoy! Restaurant - Corpus Christi, Texas