Biography

Kari Bienert is an Australian Colour field painter with a Bachelor of Visual Arts from the University of South Australia. She grew up in the Adelaide hills, South Australia, and over the last 20 years has travelled and painted extensively in the U.S. and Europe (France, England, Italy and Greece), she has just returned to Australia after four years in Asia (Malaysia). Kari’s practice is inspired by both the magic of the organic world from the macro and micro levels as well as the influence of technology on the way we visualize and understand reality.

Sourcing inspiration from within, she dives into her abstract world, articulating her adventures with undulating colours, shapes and patterns. A studio based artist, she works primarily with oil on canvas, in which her labor-intensive and intuitive process produce brightly coloured, sometimes tactile paintings that can also be sculptural. Oils prepared studiously before their application, by combining a number of paints, are carefully applied in a practice governed by abstract rules and introspective negotiations. Avoiding prior digital sketches, Kari relies on quick decisions and instinct. The process is a balance between physical motor skills and mental power, in which the brush becoming more than a tool, is an extension of her body that is intuitively guided by the beat of her heart, as well as the quiet melody in her head.

Kari’s visual language implies the pixilation of the organic world. Working in a similar vein as individuals with synesthesia and inspired by Op art, Colour Field paintings and Lyrical Abstraction, she weaves visual poetry that sings her inner world, populated by strange protagonists and perplexing landscapes. Elementary geometric shapes such as triangles and rectangles and magnified single-celled microorganisms thrive harmoniously in the same graphic plane. The visual rhythms conjured through formal arrangements of shapes are somehow simultaneously organic and artificial, bringing to mind the movement of natural energies as well as the pace of fast-moving urban commercial signage. With energetic allover compositions, her scenes appear as though they expand beyond the boundaries of the picture frame, making reference to both the expansive universe and the mysterious microscopic realm.

Kari Bienert Colour Field Artist

Kari Bienert Colour Field Artist

About Me

When I paint I commune with an inner world that is bursting with vivid colour, imagery and movement, a world that never turns off, a world I can touch and see in the stillness of my practice. These other dimensions come in my dreams as triangles, squares, amoebas, twisting, turning, revolving and changing form. It is from this place that my paintings are born.

I have always been interested in geometry and shapes and they’re relevance to the structure of every living cell. I am fascinated that everything in existence is made up of energy. My works are fields of energy.

Meditation and music are vital influences in my work. Each breath, each brushstroke, each note brings me back to the present moment of now. A space where the past and present no longer exist and new experience prevails. Nothing in my works is computer generated or constructed prior to painting. I am drawn to the simple life of monks and they’re absolute dedication to live in the present without the encumbrance of surplus “things”.

Music takes me on journeys into painting and the works become meditations in colour.

My painting practice is a slow rhythmical process of mixing many oil colours to produce a unique palette. One colour maybe the mixture of 25 different oils. I very rarely use paint straight from the tube.

Karibienertwithpalet

The Palette

Once my composition is hand drawn using minimal pencil marks, I use many different brushes according to the work. A thin, long bristle brush for the thick textured works where precision and constancy are foremost. These heavy paintings take many weeks to finish and the paint takes months to dry. A shorter, wider bristle brush is used for works when applying thin layers of paint. The accuracy and placement of differing colours and composition is all intuitive. I become part of a co-creative dance between inner vision and brushstroke.

There is a distinct three dimensional effect in my work which makes the flat picture plane vibrate. This adds a ‘sense of consciousness’ which brings an encompassing energetic connection to the viewer.

The inter relationship of thousands of colours and shapes in my paintings can produce either a dynamic kaleidoscopic effect or a calm and more undulating experience.

I grew up on a property near Clarendon in South Australia. I spent my childhood amongst the gum trees and old Studebaker wrecks. My parents had animals and planted gardens and orchards. The native bush conservation nearby was a mystical playground igniting my colourful inner visions.

Upon arriving at Art School (actually to study film), I found myself drawn to painting and colour. I started to paint with gouache on paper which later led to an obsession with oils. It was here where I fell in love with colour and discovered a new language I could express through paint.

My studies in sculpture and photography also influenced my works allowing it to take on different form and composition as evident in my textural “line period”.

Textural “Line period”.

Textural “Line period”.

After gaining my degree in Visual Arts from the University of South Australia I have dedicated my life to my love of colour and painting. I have travelled extensively and had over 15 years exhibiting experience. My paintings are in both public and private collections.

 

 

Exhibitions

 

 

PAINTING LOCATIONS

2015-2022  CURRENTLY PAINTING IN AUSTRALIA

2011-2014  PAINTING IN MALAYSIA
2009-2010  PRIVATE WORKS, SYDNEY & ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA
2005-2006  PAINTING IN LOS ANGELES, U.S.A.
2002-2003  PAINTING IN ITALY, GREECE, FRANCE AND ENGLAND

1996-2001  PAINTING IN SYDNEY & ADELAIDE, AUSTRALIA

 

SOLO EXHIBITIONS

2022       MAIN GALLERY, ADELAIDE "PAINTINGS FOR A NEW FUTURE"

2019 SOUTH AUSTRALIAN LIVING ARTISTS "A COLOURFUL LIFE", ADELAIDE
2018       BMG GALLERY, ADELAIDE "WHEN MUMMY PAINTS"

2016       WORTH GALLERY, ADELAIDE

2015       WORTH GALLERY, ADELAIDE (BARN RESIDENCY)
2008       FLINDERS STREET GALLERY, SYDNEY
2008       BMG GALLERY, ADELAIDE
2006       ARTSPACE, ADELAIDE
2006       BGH GALLERY, LOS ANGELES, U.S.A
2005       GALLERY TEN ELEVEN, MELBOURNE
2004       HILL SMITH FINE ART, ADELAIDE
2002       RECENT WORKS, STUDIO 91B (CUBE CONTEMPORARY ART), ADELAIDE
2001       RECENT WORKS, KLASSROOM, SYDNEY
2000       RECENT WORKS, ASTRO GALLERY, SYDNEY
1999       TUTTI FRUTTI, NOW ART, ADELAIDE
1998       I HEAR YOU, URBAN COW STUDIO, ADELAIDE
1997       WE SWIM, CAFÉ PICCANTE, ADELAIDE
1996       CLIQUE CURVES, CARRICK HILL, ADELAIDE
1995       NIGHTSOULS, CAFÉ PICCANTE, ADELAIDE
1994       SOULFUL, CAFÉ PICCANTE, ADELAIDE

 

GROUP EXHIBITIONS

2019       GALLERIA DE MARCHI, "THE ILLUSION OF REALITY", BOLOGNA ITALY
2016       "LITTLE TREASURES" TREVISAN INTERNATIONAL ART, ITALY
2016       "LITTLE WORKS", WORTH GALLERY, ADELAIDE
2016       BMGART CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION, BMG GALLERY, ADELAIDE
2016       PATTERN EXHIBITION, SIGNAL POINT GALLERY, ADELAIDE 

2015       BMGART CHRISTMAS EXHIBITION, BMG GALLERY, ADELAIDE 

2015       BARN STUDIO ARTISTS EXHIBITION, WORTH GALLEY, ADELAIDE 2015 SALA "OFF SHOOT" EXHIBITION, FISHER JEFFRIES ART SPACE, ADELAIDE
2008       LENNOX STREET OPEN STUDIO SHOW, SYDNEY 2007 LENNOX STREET OPEN STUDIO SHOW, SYDNEY
2004       CENTRAL STUDIOS NEW WORKS, ADELAIDE CENTRAL GALLERY
2003       HILL SMITH FINE ART “COLLECTIONS”, HILL SMITH ADELAIDE
2002       INTERNATIONAL ART FAIR, REPRESENTED BY CUBE, MELBOURNE
           HELPMANN ACADEMY ART FAIR LAUNCH, CUBE, ADELAIDE
           INDECOROUS ABSTRACTION, ROMA MITCHELL ART GALLERY, ADELAIDE
           PURE (SALA SHOW), CUBE CONTEMPORARY ART (FORMERLY STUDIO 91B), ADELAIDE
           GROUP EXHIBITION, STUDIO 91B, ADELAIDE
           URBANSCAPE, MAD LOVE GALLERY, ADELAIDE
           SCOTCH COLLEGE ANNUAL SHOW, ADELAIDE
           PUSHING ABSTRACTION, STELLA DOWNER FINE ART, SYDNEY
2001       LOVE COLOUR, STUDIO 91B, ADELAIDE
           FLAVOUR - AUSTRALIANS IN NEW YORK, NEW YORK, USA
           SPRING ART, LORETO COLLEGE ANNUAL, ADELAIDE
2001       SALA SHOW, HILL SMITH FINE ART, ADELAIDE
2000       OPEN STUDIOS, NEWTOWN, SYDNEY
1999       GOOD THINKING 99, ART IMAGES, ADELAIDE
1997       AL FRESCO, GREENHILL GALLERIES, ADELAIDE
1996       EMERGING VISUAL ARTISTS EXHIBITION, PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ADELAIDE
1995       EMERGING VISUAL ARTISTS EXHIBITION, PULTENEY GRAMMAR SCHOOL, ADELAIDE
1994       STUDENT & STAFF EXHIBITION, UNIVERSITY OF ADELAIDE
1992       CAFÉ PARADISO, ADELAIDE
1991       RUBY’S CAFÉ, ADELAIDE
           SOLITAIRES CAFÉ, ADELAIDE

EDUCATION

1993       BACHELOR OF VISUAL ARTS, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

PRESENTATIONS

2015      BARN RESIDENCY ARTIST TALK, ADELAIDE 

2003      SLIDE PRESENTATION AND LECTURE, CENTRO D’ARTE VERROCCHIO, ITALY
2002      LECTURE,  ART SCHOOL UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AUSTRALIA

REVIEWS

2017       "HER STORY EXHIBITION" MANHATTAN ARTS INTERNATIONAL 

2017       "THE COMPLEX & INNOVATIVE ART OF KARI BIENERT" (LINK)

2016       MANHATTAN ARTS FEATURE ARTIST (JULY)

2015       ADELAIDE MATTERS PROFILE FEATURE

2014       MANZA MAGAZINE FEATURE (AUGUST ISSUE)
2005       CATHRINE CLIFTON COVER STORY ADELAIDE MATTERS
2005       LOUISE NUNN “KARI BIENERT INTERNATIONAL ARTIST” THE ADVERTISER
2002       LOUISE NUNN "COLOUR FIELDS" THE ADVERTISER
           JOHN NEYLON   "MELLOW YELLOW"  ADELAIDE REVIEW
           NOMINATED BEST NEW TALENT IN 2002 "OSCARTS" THE ADVERTISER
           
           CONRAD JUPITERS GOLD COAST ART PRIZE FINALIST
2001       ADAM DUTKIEWICZ "REVEALING A COLOURFUL TALE" THE ADVERTISER
           SIMON CRITTLEMETRO --- "TAKING IT TO NEW YORK" SUN HERALD
           ADAM DUTKIEWICZ COMPLEX ABSTRACTIONS - "SALA SHOW"  THE ADVERTISER
           TRACY WHITING PROMOTION --- “SPRING ART”  "AM" ADELAIDE
1998       REBECCA JOHNSON “I HEAR YOU” DB MAGAZINE
1996       RICHARD LAWTON  ARTS ABOUT --- “CLIQUE CURVES” LIQUID SPACE

 

PRIZES

2019              AWARD OF EXCELLENCE, “THE ART THAT LIFTS OUR SPIRITS”, MANHATTAN ARTS, NEW YORK

2018              ARTIST OF THE YEAR AWARD LYON FRANCE – CIRCLE FOUNDATION FOR THE ARTS – HONOURABLE MENTION

2018              FINALIST IN THE SPECTRUM MIAMI ART FAIR COMPETITION

2017              MANHATTAN ARTS INTERNATIONAL “HERSTORY” – SECOND PLACE CASH AWARD

2001              THE ADVERTISER OSCARTS AWARDS – “BEST NEW TALENT”

2000              CONRAD JUPITER’S GOLD COAST FINALIST

 

COMMISSIONS

1994 - 2016         VARIOUS PRIVATE COMMISSIONS

COLLECTIONS

ARTBANK AND NUMEROUS PRIVATE COLLECTIONS IN LONDON, UNITED STATES, SYDNEY, PERTH, ADELAIDE, MELBOURNE AND KUALA LUMPUR
CHANNEL 7 TV
MACQUARIE UNIVERSITY (SYDNEY)

 Here are some of  My Works