ABOUT
Karen Ami was born in Chicago, which is located on the traditional unceded homelands of the Council of the Three Fires: the Ojibwe, Odawa, and Potawatomi Nations. Raised in both Indiana and Illinois. Has resided in Boston, New York, Ecuador, and Nevis, West Indies.
Currently pursuing a PhD in Creative Studies at TransArt Institute/ Liverpool John Moores University. Her practice-based research is a deep dive into multidisciplinary art and process, exploring the mosaic art form within the contexts of brokenness, chaos and repair.MFA, 1995, The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, The School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Diploma, Post-Baccalaurate, Tufts University (BFA, 1986).
In 2005, she founded The Chicago Mosaic School the first and only Not-For-Profit school for Mosaic Arts Education outside of Europe. She teaches and lectures internationally and is a both a curator and consultant for contemporary mosaic exhibitions. Ami exhibits her artwork internationally and is the only American awarded first prize in the Prix Picassiette International Mosaics Exhibition ( 2014). She was given the title of Gran Caviliare dell’ Ordine di San Martino, Italy for her contributions to Mosaics and Art Education. Her work “TEN” was acquired by The Museum of Biblical Art, Dallas Texas as part of the permanent collection. Her installations, sculptures and mosaics can be seen in public and private collections around the world.