Karen Ives holds a Master’s degree in Fine Art from the University of Wisconsin–Madison. She has taught design and wood sculpture at both UNC Asheville and the University of Wisconsin–Madison. Ives has been making art for many years while working full-time and raising a family with her husband in Asheville, NC. In 2026, she began creating art full-time.
Ives builds sculptures from wood, steel, and, most recently, ferrocement. She draws inspiration from the subtleties of nature as well as moments of awkwardness found in everyday life. Her process is highly intuitive, often beginning with sketches or fragments of ideas that evolve into abstract three-dimensional forms. These forms are typically layered with bright, patterned paint.
Ives enjoys creating artwork for commissions and site-specific installations, while also producing new pieces for upcoming gallery exhibitions.
Resume
Education
- 2000
- Master of Fine Art in Sculpture/Woodworking
University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI - 1999
- Master of Art in Sculpture
University of Wisconsin—Madison, Madison, WI - 1993
- Bachelor of Fine Art in Sculpture/Printmaking
University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville, NC
Professional Experience
- 2000–present
- Professional Artist
Asheville, NC - 2000–2010
- Adjunct Professor
University of North Carolina at Asheville, Asheville, NC
Responsible for teaching Two-dimensional and Three-Dimensional Design and Wood Sculpture. - 1996–2002
- Children’s Art Camp Instructor
Maple Meadows Art Camp for Children, Chapel Hill, NC
Instructor of drawing, painting, printmaking and sculpture for first through eighth graders. - Summer 2001
- Visiting Instructor
University of Wisconsin–Madison, Madison, WI
Responsible for teaching woodworking to undergraduate students.
Solo and Group Exhibitions
- 2022
- 34th Annual Sculpture in the Garden, UNC Botanical Gardens, Chapel Hill, NC
- 2019
- Who’s Afraid of Red, Asheville Arts Council, Asheville, NC
- 2015
- Paper Boat and Bird Art, Stockton, NJ
- 2014
- Louise Gilbert Art Gallery, Mitchell Community College, Statesville, NC
- 2013
- Upstairs Art Space, Mountain Sculptors Show, Tryon, NC
- 2013
- Brevard Lumberyard Gallery, Brevard, NC
- 2012
- Campus Gate Gallery, Young Harris College, Young Harris, GA
- 2012
- Pack Place Gallery, Mountain Sculptors Show, Asheville, NC
- 2011
- Hillsborough Public Art Tour, Hillsborough, NC
- 2010
- Public Art 360, Crest Center, Asheville, NC
- 2010
- UNCA Faculty Show, Black Mountain Center for the Arts
- 2009-2010
- Greenhill Center for the Arts, Greensboro, NC
- 2009
- Rosen Sculpture Competition and Exhibition, Boone, NC
- 2008
- “Blind Date,” Asheville Area Arts Council, Asheville, NC
- 2007
- “Parts and Portions,” Upstairs Art Space, Tryon, NC
- 2006-2007
- “Sculpture Visions,” CHPAC, Chapel Hill, NC
- 2006-2007
- River Sculpture Festival, Asheville, NC
- 2006
- Center for Craft, Creativity and Design, Hendersonville, NC
- 2005
- Upstairs Gallery, Tryon, NC
- 2004
- Stretch Gallery, Charlotte, NC
- 2003
- ACC Spotlight Show, Blue Spiral Gallery, Asheville, NC
- 2003
- “Turned Multiples,” Wood Turning Center, Philadelphia, PA
- 2003
- “Turned Multiples,” Craft Alliance, St. Louis, MO
- 2002-2003
- Fine and Functional Arts and Crafts, Artspace, Raleigh, NC
- 2002
- “Patterns,” Black Mountain Center for the Arts. Black Mountain, NC
- 2001
- “Recent Work,” Food: The Art Gallery, Asheville, NC
- 2000
- Fall/Winter 2000/2001 Exhibition, Grounds for Sculpture, Hamilton, New Jersey
Awards and Publications
- 2007-2008
- Regional Artist Project Grant, Asheville, NC. Asheville Area Arts Council, Avery County Arts Council, Madison County Arts Council, North Carolina Arts Council.
- 2006
- Winkler Scholarship Award, River Sculpture Festival, Asheville, NC
- 2005
- Western Carolina Woman, Featured Artist, October 2005
- 2002
- American Craft magazine, Portfolio, August/September 2002
- 2001-2002
- Regional Artist Project Grant, Asheville, NC. Asheville Area Arts Council, Avery County Arts Council, Madison County Arts Council, North Carolina Arts Council.
- 2001
- Woodwork magazine, December 2001
- 2000
- Outstanding Student Achievement in Contemporary Sculpture Award, International Sculpture Center.
- 2000
- Sculpture magazine, October 2000.