Jillian Karl began her artistic career in response to her love
of sculpture. In 1982, Karl started Fibre Arts, before embarking on
a study of advanced sculpture with renowned NZ sculptor Marte
Szirmay. Karl used this period to explore a variety of natural
fibres, screen printing, silk painting, garment making, hangings
and acrylic and oil painting.
Karl has been exhibiting her broad range of sculpture,
photographic work, multi-media, books, and painting, both
nationally and
internationally, since 1986. She has been the recipient of
numerous awards, and in 1990 entered Elam School of Fine
Arts in Auckland, graduating with a Masters in Fine Art.
Karl explores various subjects in her work, with many of her
works exhibiting common and consistent themes dealing with the
culture of language, the nature of perception and the limits and
power of abstraction.