Bio:
Karen Ondracek uses weaving, installation, and social practice in her work in which she considers material consumption and interpersonal dynamics. She was born and raised in Northern Wisconsin, received her BFA in Textiles from the Rhode Island School of Design, and has worked as a weaving teacher and textile designer in the San Francisco Bay Area. Within the textile industry, she has designed for a variety of applications and markets including contract upholstery, men’s accessories, children’s apparel, home interiors, and youth backpacks. Her work has been shown nationally. She is currently pursuing an MFA at the University of Kansas. Artist Statement: My approach to making often begins as a tactile collaboration with materials, working with things I find at reuse shops or castoffs from other makers. My making processes are informed by the repetition inherent to textiles, generosity, and my background in design. I’m weaving layered objects and developing interior installations. I create work to reflect everyday human experiences and relationships and explore a broadly defined idea of consumerism. |