Karl Schwiesow

Karl Schwiesow is a Central Washington based visual artist and educator exhibiting works regionally and nationally. He a craftsman, designer, and a re-arranger. His work is rooted in exploring and expanding the physical and associative characteristics of an object’s original intention and to invent formulas which weave together imagery, materials, and concepts to re-frame meaning and at which point the object becomes a starting point for dialogue between our shared cultural experiences and assumptions. Karl’s recent works encompasses large scale abstract ceramic sculpture and found and altered objects of sport, labor, and leisure.

Most recently he has exhibited work at the Percival Plinth Project in Olympia, WA (2022), Dick and Jane’s Spot in Ellensburg WA, and the Holter Museum in Helena, MT. He has been a Visiting Assistant Professor at the University of Montana and has been the Visiting Artist In Residence at North Dakota State University, a Long Term AIR at the Red Lodge Clay Center, and a Summer Fellow at the Archie Bray Foundation where his work is part of the permanent collection. He earned a BFA from Sierra Nevada College and an MFA from the University of Montana. Karl maintains an active studio practice and also works as Assistant Curator and Art Restorer at Dick and Jane’s Spot and Director of The Palace Gallery in Ellensburg.