Karaim’s Artist Statement

I am a painter focused on capturing the beauty of everyday life through detailed, colorful portraits. My latest series, “Out with Friends,” explores modern friendship by depicting intimate moments influenced by snapshots of those close to me. These works are meditations on contemporary connection. While the moments depicted are deeply personal to me, they transcend individual experiences by encouraging any viewer to take a seat and savor the moment.

My process involves actively seeking out moments of joy and beauty, transforming them into tokens of appreciation for those who make life meaningful. Influenced by ordinary yet vulnerable snapshots, my aim is for them to resonate with viewers, sparking reflections on the richness of human relationships in today’s world.

These candid portraits capture a range of personal interactions that reflect on friendship and ‘going out’ in a post-pandemic reality. From eating a quiet brunch to watching friends play on their phones - connecting today can mean having pizza and a great conversation, or it can mean disconnecting from the world entirely at a club. These works celebrate the joy of face-to-face connections while also reflecting on the distances that separate us.

Tara Karaim was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri. She attended the University of Kansas where she earned her BFA in Art History in 2013. In 2016, she graduated with her MA in Art History from the University of Missouri-Kansas City. Since then, Karaim has taught Art History at various Higher Ed Institutions across the Kansas City Metro, she has shown works regularly at multiple galleries, volunteered in an arts capacity at nonprofits and at the board level, and currently works as the Senior Grants Manager at ArtsKC, the metropolitan regional arts council. Her first solo show, “Pandemic Pets,” took place at Vulpes Bastille Gallery in January of 2024. This year she was also one of the artists chosen to participate in Parade of Hearts, a public art experience that celebrates diversity, unites communities and supports nonprofits by placing beautifully designed hearts by local artists throughout the Kansas City region.