About the Artist
Kari VanPelt
Kari E VanPelt (b. 2000, Anderson, SC, United States) is a nonbinary painter, photographer, illustrator, sculptor, and mixed media artist who lives and works in Baltimore, MD. Kari graduated from Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA), in December 2023, with their Bachelor's of Fine Art (BFA) in General Fine Art (GFA) studies.
Kari works in a wide breadth of media since they find limiting material limits creation. They are inspired by the visual artist Michael Reedy for his use of surrealist dissected anatomy and body fragmentation to show complex emotions. Kari is deeply influenced by anatomy and human bodily processes, their work focuses on the idea that the mind is rooted in the physical body like any other organ.
Education
Bachelor's of Fine Arts (BFA)
Maryland Institute College of Art: General Fine Arts
August 2019- December 2023
Baltimore, MD 21217 GPA 3.7
Dean’s List 2019-2022
MICA Grant
Presidential Scholarship
Creative Vision Award
4 Week Summer Intensive
JF Oberlin University
June 24- July 25 2023
Shinjuku City, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan Intermediate Japanese Language Japanese Culture in the Modern Era
High School Diploma
Northwest School of the Arts (NWSA) : Visual Arts
August 2013- June 2018
Charlotte, NC 28216 Arts Magnet Middle-High School
Scholastic Silver Key in Jewelry Scholastic Honorable Mention in Drawing
Group Exhibitions
Preview #17 (December Grad Show) 2023
MICA Fox 3 Gallery, Baltimore, MD
Sketchbook Day 2023
MICA Falvey Hall, Baltimore, MD
Return 2023
MICA Lazarus, Baltimore, MD
Thesis Highlights 2023
MICA Lazarus, Baltimore, MD
Drawing For Thinking & Making
MICA Brown Center, Baltimore, MD
2023
Edible Books Showcase
MICA Decker Library , Baltimore, MD
2023
Intrinsic
MICA OCI Office, Baltimore, MD
2023
Senior Highlights
MICA Lazarus, Baltimore, MD
2023
Despite Everything It’s Still You
MICA Lazarus, Baltimore, MD
2022
Junior Independent Highlights
MICA Lazarus, Baltimore, MD
2022
Drawing Anatomy Showcase
MICA Fox 3 Gallery Baltimore, MD
2021
Isolated Archives Virtual Exhibition
MICA Baltimore, MD
2021
Gateway Resident Art Walk
MICA Baltimore, MD
2021
We Are Everywhere
MICA Fox 2 ,Baltimore, MD
2021
Annual Spring Showcase
NWSA, Charlotte, NC
2020
Annual Spring Showcase
NWSA, Spirit Square, Charlotte, NC
2018
Scholastic Art & Writing Awards
Mint Museum , NC
2018
“Art in Mind”, Mental Health of America Central Carolinas Auction
Mint Museum, Randolph , NC
2017
Annual Spring Showcase
NWSA Spirit Square, Charlotte, NC
2017 2016 2015