About Karen Karnes

  • Biography

    KAREN KARNES (1915-2016)

    Beauty and function combine in pottery crafted by Karen Karnes. She was known for her wheel-thrown pieces, lidded casseroles, and salt-glazed pottery. Rather than teach, she supported herself and son through sales of her work—unusual for a female craftsperson in the 1960s.

    The daughter of Russian immigrants who worked in the garment district, Karnes was born in New York City. She attended the High School of Music & Art, located in the Hamilton Hills neighborhood on 135th Street in Harlem. The school was known as “The Castle on the Hill,” because of its gothic revival style architecture. From there Karnes went to Brooklyn College where she majored in design, but never touched clay. Many of...

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