Karen Byrne

Karen Byrne’s practice moves between media encompassing sculptural work in textiles, stitch and print, drawing, video and installation. Work emerges both conceptually and through the act of making – each feeding the other in a self-perpetuating cycle. Recent work explores the use of language and cultural stereotypes to constrain human behaviour and shape societal responses – in particular as it relates to sexuality and body image. Sometimes humorous and/or disturbing – the idea of a woman who is literally ‘all legs’ – I give form to words making real what is expressed verbally, highlighting meaning and through humour and surprise diffuse the ability to hurt and control.