Biography

Karen Klassen grew up on an acreage just north of Edmonton in Namao, surrounded by animals and the outdoors, an upbringing she credits for a lasting appreciation of simple things, paired with the drive to dream big instilled by a creative mother and entrepreneurial parents. In 2005, after years spent building a career in business, she discovered mosaic art and began developing the skills that now define her practice. Her goal is to create work that feels timeless and inspirational, capable of transporting viewers, if only briefly, to a higher level of consciousness. She continues to refine her craft across both mosaic and sculpture, often collaborating with fellow mosaic artists on public and private commissions.

Klassen spent 13 years building and running her family's flower shop in Edmonton, taking ownership at age 20 before selling the business to start a family. She held her first solo show in St. Albert in 2007, and one of her mosaic pieces was selected for permanent display at the Edmonton Cross Cancer Institute.