Minimalism and Material Integrity.
What if the story of who we are could be captured in a single, shifting image? Karen Navarro’s art offers just that, inviting us to explore the fluid boundaries of identity. Based in Houston, artist Karen Navarro brings a unique perspective to her work through photography, collage, and sculpture. With roots in Argentina and a heritage in multiple backgrounds, her work reflects her journey as a migrant and themes of representation and belonging.
Navarro’s artistic process begins with digital photography, capturing portraits against solid colored backgrounds. Then, these portraits transform through fragmentation, layering, and reassembly. This method draws attention to the intricate details of her subjects while also mirroring the fragmented nature of collective identities.
While splicing images apart with bright and sharp edges, Navarro creates a dynamic balance between form and space. Her vibrant colors and abstract shapes challenge traditional notions of beauty and representation, allowing for a more inclusive dialogue.
In addition to her photographic work, Navarro creates colorful kinetic sculptures. These sculptures are an extension of her portraits, reflecting her interest in the impact of migration and colonization.
Navarro’s use of materials is significantly personal and symbolic. She integrates elements like wood, paint, resin, and fabrics, all of which echo her family’s craftsmanship and tailoring traditions. Patterns and Symbols, such as the square representing a pixel, are intended to give her work different layers of meaning—colors, like pink and blue, express duality, reflecting the dichotomy of her identities.
The Houston-based artist’s multimedia practice explores how race, representation, and belonging intersect. As Navarro explains, her works are reflections of her own identity and a broader commentary on how identities are constructed and perceived. Portraying a diverse range of people and utilizing social media to find her models, Navarro emphasizes the importance of representation and inclusivity in her work.
Karen Navarro is an example of how art can act as an agent for social and cultural reflection. Her practice, grounded in personal experience and cultural heritage, celebrates the importance of diversity and rethinks how stories communicate.
Featured in our collection below, I am Different, 2017.
