about the artist

Karen Rhebergen learned about the ancient process of batik, and began exploring the possibilities of molten wax and fabric dye while raising her family in Canada's Yukon. She spent many winter evenings basking in the light of her home studio, creating batik art as expression of what impacted her most: the beauty of wild places, and the warmth of human love.

For 17 years, this craft form has intrigued Karen. She approaches her art with curiosity; completely absorbed in the preliminary sketching, the physical construction, and the voice of each piece. Her painterly style in the medium has rendered her work to be highly recognizable as it continues to evolve.

The inspiration that moved Karen at the beginning of her art practice has remained constant and grown in focus and scope. The nature of relationships and the ripples that ensue often emerge in her art. Dignity, parity and wellness are themes that play across the body of her work, sometimes resulting in melancholy, sometimes expressing pure joy and most often landing somewhere between.

Karen has recently moved to London Ontario. Upon arriving, she explored the city and its parks, and felt immediately at home. She works from her home studio and finds great satisfaction in being immersed in the process of art making as well as in sharing that process. Karen has a small showing of work at Magpie's Collected Creations in Covent Garden Market, and she looks forward to the relationships and experiences that her new community holds for her.

Karen's art has traveled to homes and public spaces across Canada, and around the world.


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The resist process of batik is an ancient craft, dating back in history over two thousand years. Karen couples the traditional method of batik with constant exploration of the possibilities of wax and dye.
Her pieces of art reflect on common moments in life
​that are bathed with love and dignity.