Radical Impressionist: A Mathematician Paints

Defining moments: January 2018: Realized that I needed to return to my second love, Mathematics to explore the connections between it and the passion of the past two decades: art and painting. Adapted the 'brand':  Radical Impressionist: A Mathematician Paints.  Planning exhibitions. May 2016.  Return to the Rivers , exhibition at the Marigold Arts Gallery.  My son Joshua met a world renowned author and chef, Vikas , at a major political event.  One of his books is titled “Return to the River”. While reading the book into the middle of the night I realized that I have always been drawn to rivers (and oceans).  I was very moved by Khanna’s activities, supporting women and children throughout the world. He has raised himself up from poverty to become beloved by the Dalai Lama, Obama, Hillary Clinton and now my son and by millions watching him on his cooking programs. Khanna also donates dinners to women’s shelters. Meeting him has opened up a new world f...

Curriculum vitae: 2016-2025. Awards. 2025 PAPNM National Juried Show Award for Painting with a Special Point of View, 2024 PAPNM Paint New Mexico Special Judge's Recognition, 2024 Masterworks of NM, 3rd Place -Oil/Acrylic, 2021 PAPNM Taos Award of Excellence, 2016 Plein Air Artists of Colorado, Award of Merit.   2012-Current. Webmaster, Plein Air Painters of New Mexico. 2025 - Handell and Halbert Weekend Workshop - Intuitive Composition and Dynamic Symmetry, Bluebird Studios, Santa Fe, NM 2024 - Handell and Halbert Weekend Workshop - Intuitive Composition and Dynamic Symmetry, Bluebird Studios, Santa Fe, NM 2024 - Current. Karen Wray Gallery, Los Alamos, NM. 2023 - Dynamic Symmetry Workshop, Bluebird Studios, Santa Fe, NM. 2016 – 2022. Marigold Arts Gallery, Canyon Road, Santa Fe. 2010-2018. Purple Sage Gallery, Oldtown, Albuquerque. 2005-current. Moved to Santa Fe from Woodstock to study with oil painting masters, Roger Williams, Doug Higgins, Bill Gallen and Albert Handell...

Selected Exhibitions – Karen Halbert July 2025. Award for a Plein Air Painting with a Different Point of View. 16th National Juried Members Show, Plein air Painters of New Mexico. April 2024. Judge's Special Award. Paint New Mexico! Plein Air Painters of New Mexico. March 2024. Third Place Oil/Acrylics. Masterworks of New Mexico. 2024 - current. Karen Wrey Fine Art Gallery Representation, Los Alamos. 2016-2022. Marigold Art Gallery Representation, Canyon Road, Santa Fe, NM August 2020. Taos Plein Air, Honorable Mention for Blowin' in the Wind, Wilder Nightingale Gallery, Taos, NM. Plein Air Painters of New Mexico. November 2018. 10th National National Juried Members Show, Sorrel Sky Gallery. Plein Air Painters of New Mexico, Santa Fe. June 2018. Santa Fe Plein Air Fiesta, Juried Paint Out and Exhibition. Sorrel Sky Gallery, Plein Air Painters of New Mexico, Santa Fe. November 2017. 9th National National Juried Members Show, Sorrel Sky Gallery. Plein Air Painters o...

Plein Air Artists of Colorado Featured Artist Article of October 2015: PAAC Article – Karen Halbert Short Bio:  Karen strives to transform the beauty of mathematics into her art, utilizing her knowledge of areas such as dynamic symmetry, fractals and chaos theory. The “hidden harmony” of Karen's work is shown in her cloud fractals, wave patterns and stream flows as well as cliff striations and tessellations. Karen grew up in the West, but moved East as an adult to attend college and pursue a career as a college professor of mathematics and computer science, and later as a Wall Street executive. She eventually settled in Woodstock, New York to fulfill her life-long dream of being an artist, but ultimately was drawn back West to the artist-rich town of Santa Fe. Karen continues to use her computer skills as a volunteer Website Administrator for the Plein Air Painters of New Mexico. When did you first become interested in art? As a child, I loved...