Karen Vanon is an artist based in Vancouver.

I'm most intrigued by documenting my time and place.  Of particular interest are subjects that are not typically imaged. My practice focuses on capturing these subjects spontaneously as they go about their daily lives, depicting the events and personalities of the ordinary world. The fleeting moments and secondary scenes that I witness are suggestive of a larger narrative that underlies and informs the moment, presenting sophisticated layers through which each drawing can be perceived.

I was born and raised just outside of Montreal, Quebec. My excursions to Montreal resulted in my love for the diversity, vibrancy, culture, and intrigue of the urban landscape. Since then I have lived in Toronto, Ottawa, and now, Vancouver. These cities, as all cities, have their own characters and stories to tell. This is the very subject that compels me to draw, documenting my time and place.

I studied at Emily Carr University, where I earned my Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, my Fine Arts certificate, and two awards for outstanding artistic achievement. My work was also featured twice in ECU’s advertising.