Education

2016
Master of Fine Art with Honours, Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

2013
Advanced Diploma of Art and Design, Whitecliffe College of Arts and Design, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

Selected Solo Exhibitions, Projects and Site-Responsive Installations

2026
The Light Between Worlds, interdisciplinary exhibition project, Arthaus Contemporary, Ōrākei, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland, including StillePoint Studio event

2026
The Opening, site-responsive installation, St Paul’s Church, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

2024–25
Celestial Numinance, Malcolm Smith Gallery, Uxbridge Arts and Culture, Howick, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

2023
Capturing What Cannot Be Captured, Atelier Gallery, Whakatū Nelson. Curated by David James

2022
Luminary I Luminare, Personal Structures, European Cultural Centre, Venice, Italy. Curated by Sara Danieli and Lucia Pedrana

2022
Luminary I Luminare, Aotearoa New Zealand tour: Auckland, Dunedin, Christchurch and Wellington. Co-presented by NorthArt Gallery and the University of Otago

2022
Luminary, NorthArt, Northcote, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

2021
Numinous Spheres, NorthArt, Northcote, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Curated by Jonathan Organ and Jessica Pearless

2021
Awakenings IV, site-responsive installation, Holy Trinity Cathedral, Parnell, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

2014
Lost, Solo exhibition, TSB Bank Wallace Arts Trust, Pah Homestead, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Curated by Nicholas Butler

Selected Group Exhibitions, Public Projects and Presentations

2024
Changing Lanes, Morning Star, Bledisloe Lane, Auckland city centre

2024
3 Sisters, 3 Kings (earth from my back yard) and Luminary II XR (Betelgeuse), ABSTRAXT ABSTRAXT, NorthArt, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Curated by Jessica Pearless

2024
Stardust (from my back yard), Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards Exhibition, Whakatāne Galleries. Curated by Aimee Ratana

2023
Luminary, Arthaus Dreho, Korschenbroich, Germany

2022
Celestial Event Series: Astro Dawn, Civil Dawn & Dawn to Daybreak, Woman Made Gallery, Chicago, USA

2021
Luminary (Intangible), NZ Sculpture OnShore, Fort Takapuna, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Curated by Sally Lush

2020–21
Wonder Tree and Baade’s Window, Ōwhango Summer Sculpture Show, Ōwhango, Aotearoa New Zealand. Curated by Jonathan Organ and Jessica Pearless

2020
Faux, The Wilderness Precinct, Festival One, Mystery Creek Events Centre, Kirikiriroa Hamilton. Curated by Mark Pierson

2018
In Paradise, NZ Sculpture OnShore, Fort Takapuna, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Curated by Anna Hanson

2017
Paradise Life, EA Arts and Music Festival, The Cloud, Queens Wharf, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Curated by Cleo Barnett, Paris Kirby and Bronson Price

2016
The Stand In, Glaister Ennor Graduate Art Awards, Sanderson Contemporary Gallery, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Curated by Kylie Sanderson

2015
Adaptation: New Artists in a New Space, Warwick Henderson Gallery, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland. Curated by Warwick Henderson

2015
Lost, TSB Bank Wallace Arts Trust, Pah Homestead, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

Distinctions, Awards and Award Exhibitions

2024
Merit Award, Molly Morpeth Canaday Art Awards, Whakatāne Galleries

2014–23
Commissioned artist, New Zealand Unsung Hero Award trophies

2016
Finalist, Glaister Ennor Graduate Art Awards

2013
Finalist, Wallace Trust Art Awards

2012
Finalist, Adam Portraiture Award

2011
Winner, Supreme Award, Waitākere Trust Arts and Sculpture Award, Painting

Selected Writing, Reviews and Publications

2022
Torrance, Tamar, “Numinosity in the Art of Karen Sewell,” Luminary I Luminare publication, Venice

2022
Shaw, Megan, “The Lineage of Luminary: Wonder and the Sphere in Early Modern Art History (1400–1700),” Luminary I Luminare publication, Venice

2022
Brown, Judith, “Benediction: Theological Resonances in Luminary I Luminare,” Luminary I Luminare publication, Venice

2021
McAvoy, Emil, “Levitation: The Recent Work of Karen Sewell,” Numinous Spheres exhibition catalogue, NorthArt

Artist Books and Publications

2022
Luminary I Luminare [artist book], published by Karen Sewell, Aotearoa New Zealand

2016
Real Fantasy [artist book], published by Karen Sewell, Aotearoa New Zealand

Public Presentations, Artist Talks and Workshops

2024
Panelist and workshop presenter, Futures Symposium, ABSTRAXT ABSTRAXT, NorthArt, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

2023
Artist talk, Capturing What Cannot Be Captured, Nelson Cathedral, Nelson Arts Festival, Whakatū Nelson

2022
Artist talks, Luminary I Luminare, Venice, Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Dunedin

2021
Artist talk and workshop presenter, Numinous Spheres, NorthArt, Tāmaki Makaurau Auckland

Roles and Selection Panels

2024
Judge, Waitākere Arts 50th Members Art Exhibition

2023
Judge, 35th Trusts Art Award

Collections

C. Hutchinson Collection
The Art House Trust
National and international private collections

Gallery Representation / Relationships

Atelier on Sherbourne, Whakatū Nelson