Stepping into the studio of Choctaw painter Karen Clarkson feels less like entering a workspace and more like crossing the threshold into a sacred space of truth-telling and transformation. Surrounded by luminous portraits of Native women, each a testament to strength, heritage, and resilience, pulsing with purpose.
From July 25 through August 5, 2025, Blue Rain Gallery proudly presents Clarkson’s newest body of work in a solo exhibition that continues her decades-long commitment to honoring Indigenous women through paint. An artist reception will be held on Friday, July 25th from 5–7pm.
With bold draftsmanship and a soulful command of color, Clarkson builds her subjects not as mere likenesses, but as layered interpretations of inner fortitude, vulnerability, and cultural identity. Her latest pieces highlight a contemporary view of Indigenous womanhood, rich with symbolism and emotional depth. Though many of her subjects are Diné (Navajo), Clarkson’s intent transcends tribal boundaries, aiming to dismantle the myths surrounding Native women as weak or voiceless and instead uplift them as proud, determined, and beautifully complex individuals.
In Clarkson’s studio, the power of her portraits is amplified by their uncluttered compositions, where each figure stands with monumental presence—commanding attention through sheer spirit and form. One compelling work features twin figures draped in their grandmother’s blanket, a poignant meditation on dual identity and the tension of navigating two worlds, bound and comforted by the enduring strength of tradition.
Clarkson is a self-taught artist whose journey began with old family photographs and an earnest desire to connect with her Choctaw roots. Her process today remains just as intimate. “Each painting is a journey of revelation,” she says. “I’m not interested in painting beauty for beauty’s sake. I want to show determination, culture, and purpose.”
Some of Clarkson’s works even incorporate QR codes that link to educational resources, turning her art into portals of advocacy and awareness. Whether speaking to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW), cultural preservation, or personal strength, Clarkson’s work quietly disrupts assumptions and redefines what it means to be seen.
Her growing list of accolades—including the 2024 Arizona Governor’s Choice Award and the Grand Award at Santa Fe Indian Market—only underscore the resonance of her message. But for Clarkson, the greatest reward is the moment when a viewer looks into the eyes of one of her subjects and sees not a stranger, but a reflection of shared humanity.
Visit Blue Rain Gallery this summer to experience Karen Clarkson’s newest work firsthand and take a closer look into the studio where art becomes advocacy, and portraiture becomes a powerful act of reclamation.
