Seeing through the Trees

Ready to hang - Black. minimal and lightweight box frame with perspex. Hand cut analogue retro/vintage paper collage

Seeing through the Trees

Starting with a base image of a historical wood block of religous iconography - in this case Madonna and Child, in shades and colours of a cool and green forest, this work speaks to appreciating and finding peace wherever you are in your walk through life. Collaged with images in shades of greens including images of my own past favourite artwork - 'Into the forest' . 'Seeing through the Trees' speaks like a calming and peaceful walk through a quiet forest.

I was a painting major at university. I am now a painter and mixed media artist who loves working with paper and collage.

After living in France for several years, I started enjoying the possibilities of working with paper and collage with mixed media was this natural progression. Collage especially allows a reworking and pastiche to make a new story or 'paint' a new picture. I use the process and opportunities that collage allows and embrace using and recycling vintage papers and magazines - often vintage French fashion magazines and discarded retro books from the 1950's, 60's and 70s - the ephemeral and the discarded. That which is fleeting/ passing and impermanent and giving new life and form - a new story.

All artwork taken without acrylic perspex to minimise reflection - artworks subsequently 'pop' and look even better under the acrylic perspex.

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Karen Coull  (born Sydney 1961)

BA Visual Arts UWS 1992

A recipient of a City of Sydney Work/Live Studio Residency, Karen has exhibited in solo and group shows in Australia, UK, USA and Europe over the past 30 years.

She is represented in a number of public Australian, UK and USA collections and private collections in Australia,  Europe, USA and UK.

Coull is passionate about the often marginalised, domestic/traditionally female art practices with a strong emphasis on analogue collage using vintage and recycled paper. Her current focus is on her journey of ageing and the invisibility of older women.

SELECTED recent exhibitions/prizes
2026 Finalist Burwood Art Prize
2026 Coupee Collage for World Collage Day - Belgium
2026 Finalist 'Remagine Art Prize' – Highly Commended
2025 Finalist Wollongong Art Prize
2025 Finalist Hazelhurst Art on Paper
2024 The Kanyer Art Collection and Historical Archive of Collage, Curator Freya Gowrley, PhD, Bristol University, UK
2024 Finalist Sunshine Coast National Art Prize
2024 The Views From Here - work from the Casula Powerhouse Collection, Yellamundie - Liverpool City Library, Liverpool
2024 Finalist 'Remagine Art Prize'
2023 Finalist Woollahra Small Sculpture Award
2023 Finalist 'Fishers Ghost Art Award'
2023 Finalist National Sunshine Coast National Art Prize
2023 “Collage”. BOXX gallery, Washington
2023 “A 45 Year Love Affair with Art: The Doug + Laurie Kanyer Art Collection. Tieton Arts and Humanities, Washington
2022 'Waverley Art Prize' - Drawing Prize Winner
2022 Finalist 'Fishers Ghost Art Award'
2022 Finalist 'Hornsby Art Prize'
2022 'Gosford Art Prize' - Highly Commended
2022 'Remagine Art Prize' - Peoples Choice
2021 Finalist ''Gosford Art Prize'
2021 Finalist ''Fishers Ghost Art Award'
2021 Finalist 'Biennial 'Banyule Award for Works on Paper'
2021 Finalist ''Bluethumb Art Prize'
2021 Finalist ''Waverley Art Prize'
2021 Finalist ''Remagine'
2021 'SPACE YZ'  Campbelltown Art Centre curated by Daniel Mudie Cunningham
2021 Collage. Seville, Spain
2020 Finalist ''Meroogal Women's Art Prize',
2019'Finalist 'NOW Contemporary Art Prize'