Bio

Karen Steward AKA (Iona Egg) is a Los Angeles based Fine Artist, Photographer, Curator,  Art Director and Production Designer in Film and Television and Theatre. Her Passion for the Arts began in college as she explored her way through coursework disciplines including Fine Art, Painting and Drawing, Classical Guitar, Theatre, Architecture , Furniture Design & Interior Design.

"The world was my Bauhaus in those years; I wanted to learn everything."

Steward moved to LA in her 6th year of college after being hired on a local film in San Antonio as a Set Designer in order to pursue  a career path in Art Direction for over 30 years. 

Woven between her position as Art Director came opportunities to create not only her personal Art, but Artworks for Film Sets; Tv, Video, Film, and Commercials. This has allowed her to study and execute many different styles of painting. But today she is spending alot of time in her LA based Art Studio creating a Series of Paintings called "MIMETIC FOLLIES" which is a collection of Surrealist Geometric Characters each with its own personality.

See article in "ART CONFIDENTIAL" Magazine: https://www.artconfidentialmag.com/assets/files/AC_Fall-Issue2021_Web.pdf

OTHER ENDEAVORS:

Karen is also on the Advisory Board for Green Spark Group; an organization providing leadership in Sustainability within the Film Industry, highlighting her goals to help keep Set Construction material out of the landfill; and to encourage the use of non-rainforest lumber products. KS has written articles for her Art Directors Guild Magazine, "Perspective" and also for the Blog "Production Designers Collective"  https://www.productiondesignerscollective.org/single-post/2019/03/24/sustainability-and-production-design-in-film-and-television.         KS also participates in the Art Directors Guild (ADG IATSE 800) GREEN Committee as "Sustainability Consultant", and  maintains a FB page entitled “Film Industry Materials Exchange" which offers useful info for Green Film objectives.

Exhibitions:

PRESENT:

2024. El Segundo Art Walk; Los Angeles, CA.

2023. Los Angeles Municipal Art Gallery- GROUP SHOW. Barnsdall Art Park Gallery; Los Angeles.

2023. "Made By 800" GROUP SHOW. MorYork Gallery. Highland Park, Los Angeles.

PAST:

Sulkin-Seacant Gallery. Bergamont Station, Los Angeles, CA. Group Show 2004.

Whitebox Gallery "Unreal" show. Group Exhibition. Marina Del Rey, CA. 2004.

Gallery C-Group Show-"Touch Me"- LENSWORK-   Hermosa Beach, CA - 2005.

Venice  Art Walk -Open Studio- Venice, CA -1997, 2005, 2008.

Zimmer Childrens Museum: "Show and Tell- The Art Of Time. Group Show. - 2006.

MINIWORX - Art Director's Guild Group Show  hosted by GhettoGloss Gallery. 2008.

MAD RIVER POST Group Show- Venice, CA. - 1994

ACTOR'S GANG Theatre. Solo Show. - 1994

Curator for NOVASPACE. Checca Restaurant. Los Angeles. "The Art of EFRAT PENN". 1994.

Abbot’s Habit Coffee Shop- Venice, CA- "Two Artists" w Marion Lane. -1995.

SOLO Exhibition:  "IN CONCRETE". Works displayed in the Judges Chambers-City Hall.  City Of Buena Park, Fine Arts Commission.  1997. 

The Shooting Gallery. Fundraiser. Group Show. LA, CA.  1997

DKP Post Production Facility. SOLO Show. Santa Monica, CA.  1998.

Exposition 500 Gallery- Dallas, Texas. College Group Show- 1983

The Record Gallery- Dallas, Texas.      Solo Show- 1983

Venice Arts Mecca- Annual Group Exhibition. Venice, CA. 1993

N.E.T - Abbott Kinney Street Fair. Group Show. 1993. Venice, CA.

Curator for NOVASPACE GROUP- Venice, CA. "Leda And The Swan". Ivy Substation, Culver City, CA. - 1993.

Curator for NOVASPACE GROUP- Venice, CA. "Project Box" Group Show - LA ART FAIR.  - 1993.

Curator for NOVASPACE GROUP in Venice CA, where, among others, she launched the Group Show at LATC entitled “Mapping The Jungle”, and the “GAL-LERY” show at The Candy Sound facility in Venice CA. 1993.

Fundraiser Group Show in Los Angeles @ Pacific Design Center in Support of AIDS Research. - 1993.  Los Angeles, CA.

****I am interested in participating in new exhibitions in 2023 and beyond.****