Karen Stein is a New York City – born artist based in California.  She works primarily in oil and acrylic.  Her paintings are rooted in contemporary abstract expressionism and are driven by process, gesture,and experimentation.  Non-representational in form, her work unfolds through layered color, high chromatic intensity, shifting transparency, varied texture and energetic mark making, emphasizing movement, emotion and discovery.

With many years of experience in the arts, she has also studied various forms, including black and white fine art photography, ceramics, and music, enriching her artistic perspective.