Influenced by traditions of Romantic painting, portraiture and landscape, Kilimnik gives equal weight to a range of disparate subjects in her work – from popular culture to Old Master paintings, via television shows, movies, books, magazines, animal portraits and fairytales – such that distinctions between ‘high’ and ‘low’ culture dissolve. This creative levelling was apparent in her early works – following studies in art and architecture in Philadelphia, in the late 1980s and early 1990s she presented a series of exhibitions featuring paintings, photographs, drawings, installations, sculptures and films arranged around the exhibition space. Kilimnik’s paintings include portraits, landscapes, houses and interiors, animals and scenes from the ballet, rendering mythology, femininity, and historical and fictional themes through her confident, loose brushwork.
the beach + the sea
2023
Acrylic on canvas
100.5 x 137.5 cm / 39 1/2 x 54 1/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the cat sitting in its favorite basket out in the blizzard, the Himalaya
2020
Water soluble oil color on canvas
20.5 x 25.5 cm / 8 x 10 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the otherworld on stage, the ducal palace theater, Italy in the renaissance
2020
Acrylic and china marker on paper
Sheet 57 x 89 cm / 22 1/2 x 35 in
Frame 95 x 126.5 x 5.5 cm / 37 3/8 x 49 3/4 x 2 1/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
cats playing in the snow, Siberia
2020
Water soluble oil color on canvas
Image 20.5 x 25.5 cm / 8 x 10 in
Frame 29 x 34 x 5 cm / 11 3/8 x 13 3/8 x 2 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the pastel country palace
2020
Acrylic and china marker on paper
Sheet 66 x 101.5 cm / 26 x 40 in
Frame 100 x 135 x 5 cm / 39 3/8 x 53 1/8 x 2 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the Imperial Jeweled Dragon of Peking
2019
Plastic with plastic, glass and Swarovski crystals
12.5 x 23 x 5 cm / 5 x 9 x 2 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Tinkerbell's home castle, Germany CubicFun's World's Great Architecture Germany, Neuschwanstein
2019
Foam board with plastic, glass and Swarovski crystals
35.5 x 44.5 x 18 cm / 14 x 17 1/2 x 7 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the lookout at the grove of the gods
2019
Water soluble oil color and acrylic on canvas
20.5 x 30.5 cm / 8 x 12 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the empty town square, Nuremburg
2017
Water soluble oil color on canvas
40.5 x 61 cm / 16 x 24 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the owl, town watch, the flood approaches
2017
Water soluble oil color on canvas
26 x 21 cm / 10 1/4 x 8 1/4 in
Frame 29 x 23.5 x 3.5 cm / 11 3/8 x 9 3/8 x 1 3/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the Spanish inquisition at Leonardo DaVinci's home
2016
Water soluble oil color on canvas
35.5 x 28 cm / 14 x 11 in
© Karen Kilimnik
An 18th century costume with silk bow and lace
2016
Pastel on ingres paper
Sheet 32 x 24 cm / 12 1/2 x 9 1/2 in
Frame 44.5 x 37 x 4 cm / 17 1/2 x 14 5/8 x 1 5/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
The necklace
2016
Pastel on ingres paper
Sheet 32 x 24 cm / 12 1/2 x 9 1/2 in
Frame 44.5 x 37 x 4 cm / 17 1/2 x 14 5/8 x 1 5/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the green fairy cottage in the Vietnamese jungle
2015
Water soluble oil color and glitter on canvas
51 x 61 cm / 20 x 24 in
© Karen Kilimnik
flowers in the fairy countryside
2014
Water soluble oil color on canvas
ø 25.5 cm / ø 10 in
© Karen Kilimnik
The golden coins in the forest
2013
C-print
Ed. 3/5
Image 38 x 51 cm / 15 x 20 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Summer camp
2013
C-print
Ed. 3/5
Image 40.5 x 51 cm / 16 x 20 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Shadow
2013
Water soluble oil color on canvas
51.5 x 61 cm / 20 1/4 x 24 in
© Karen Kilimnik
tiny leaping for joy
2013
Water soluble oil color on canvas
51.5 x 61.5 cm / 20 1/4 x 24 1/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the imagined folly library
2013
Water soluble oil color on canvas
40.5 x 51 cm / 16 x 20 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Villeroy & Boch 1748
View of Italy, 1547 from Fleurance porcelaine plate
2013
Water soluble oil color on canvas
ø 25.5 cm / ø 10 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the fairie Queens Sheep in the woods
2012
Water soluble oil color on canvas
76 x 61 x 2 cm / 30 x 24 x 3/4 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the Ragamuffin of Kiddington hall
2011-2012
Water soluble oil color on canvas
45.5 x 35.5 cm / 18 x 14 in
© Karen Kilimnik
my the Entrance of the Masked Dancers, c. 1889 Degas
2011
Water soluble oil color on canvas
51 x 61 cm / 20 x 24 in
© Karen Kilimnik
The princess of the hippies
2010
Water soluble oil color on canvas
51 x 40.5 cm / 20 1/8 x 16 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Sleeping Beauty and friends
2007
Theatre curtain, curtain frame, three chairs (after Marijnski theater chairs)
Duration of the film 37 min. 10 sec.
Edition of 4 + 1 AP
© Karen Kilimnik
The shade in the river styx
2005
Water soluble oil on canvas
71.5 x 56 cm / 28 1/8 x 22 1/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Vodka cocktails at the Russian Tea Room Ivan + Rudy
2004
Water soluble oil colour, glitter, archival glue on canvas, framed
Frame 76 x 66 x 9 cm / 29 7/8 x 26 x 3 1/2 in
© Karen Kilimnik
A Major Romance
1998
Crayon on paper
Sheet 66 x 90 cm / 26 x 35 1/2 in
Frame 91.5 x 114 x 4.5 cm / 36 x 44 7/8 x 1 3/4 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Fashion Shop
1992
Blue veil curtain, wrought iron chair, gold painted wire coathangers, fashion
items, tights, perfume bottles, fashion phone and assorted jewelry
330 x 178 x 178 cm / 130 x 70 x 70 in
© Karen Kilimnik
The Joker Episode of the Avengers
1991
Mixed media
© Karen Kilimnik
My Nose Job to Look Like Brunette
Model from 60s Who Was Sick
1990
C-Print; framed
Ed. 4/5
Image 25 x 35.5 cm / 9 7/8 x 14 in
Frame 44.5 x 55 x 3.5 cm / 17 5/8 x 21 3/4 x 1 1/2 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Me as Isabelle Adjani on T.V.
Denying She Has AIDS
1988
C-Print; framed
Ed. 4/5
Image 28 x 35.5 cm / 11 x 14 in
Frame 44 x 55 x 3.5 cm / 17 3/8 x 21 5/8 x 1 1/2 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the elven Queen - Esmeralda (part of Bewitched family)
1986
Pastel on paper
Sheet 61 x 45.5 cm / 24 x 18 in
Frame 63.5 x 79 x 3 cm / 25 x 31 1/8 x 1 1/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Turf
1986
Crayon on paper
Frame 83 x 98 x 4 cm / 32 5/8 x 38 5/8 x 1 5/8 in
Sheet 58.5 x 73.5 cm / 23 x 28 7/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
