Schwarz Karst Profile

  • About the Artist

    Barb with Red at ZACC gallery opening

     


      

     

    About the Artist

    Barb Schwarz Karst brings a flare of contemporary freshness and attitude to the global art community through her unique ability to blend traditional materials with edgy and unconventional medias. Her innovative conception of the blind grid process and painting on incongruent aluminum sets her apart as an unequivocal advancer of the arts.

     

    The inspiration for her works stems from an intellectual desire to express some of her most deeply personal subjects through her paintings.

     

    Since recently being confronted with difficult and nearly devastating circumstances, it was Schwarz Karst’s art that became her salvation and further ignited her passion for the historical, edgy and expressive art genres you see today.

     

    The Missoula native is highly regarded among the art community, and has acquired numerous awards, achievements, and professional training throughout the years. Most recently, she has become an acclaimed three-time award recipient of the National Society of Painters in Casein and Acrylic at the Salmagundi Club in New York City. Prior to receiving this prestigious award, Schwarz Karst received a fellowship to study with TICA (Teacher Institute of Contemporary Art) with the School of the Art Institute of Chicago. Additionally, she holds an MIS Graduate Art degree from the University of Montana and a B.S. in Art Education from Montana State University-Billings.

     

    Schwarz Karst’s professional works have been featured in worldwide and domestic exhibitions, museums, print publications, as well as corporate, private, and traveling collections throughout the United States.

     

    When she’s not painting or exhibiting at the latest art show, you’ll find Schwarz Karst in the mountains biking, hiking or taking pictures while hanging out with her husband, Tim, an avid rock climber. She also finds solace jammin' to blues music at concerts or in the studio, toasting lattes with friends and cheering on the Golden State Warriors to another championship. Schwarz Karst keeps plenty busy engaging with the community via her galleries and non-profit organizations she supports.