Lives and Works
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About
Since beginning her career, Karen has received numerous honors for her artistic and cultural contributions. Awards include the Cultural Preservation Heritage Award in New Orleans (2017), the Artistic Merit Award at the Red River Revel (2017), the Shreveport Regional Arts Council Fellowship Award (2017), and the GUTS Award (2023) recognizing her impact on Shreveport’s arts community. Her work has been featured in national and regional publications, including Black Southern Belle (2019), Voyage Magazine (February 2024), and Bold Journey (April 2024). Karen’s leadership and voice have been recognized beyond the canvas: she served as a panelist for the Black Women in the Arts Networking Panel during Women’s Month (March 2023). In March 2025, she expanded her storytelling practice with the release of her cookbook-memoir A Creole Lady’s Stories & Recipes, blending her artwork with family stories and culinary heritage. Most recently, her painting Da Neighborhood was selected for a juried exhibition at the R.W. Norton Gallery in Shreveport, LA (August 2025).