About

Inspired by the colors and light of coastal landscapes, Karin Olah combines hand-dyed fabric and paint to create her signature multi-layered paintings. Karin’s subject matter ranges from seascape to abstract expressionism to a dreamy place in-between.

Born in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, Karin combines an interest in quilt making, a BFA from Maryland Institute College of Art, a background in fashion design in NYC, and an ever-growing fabric collection to add layers of texture, depth, and color to her work. 

Her work has been featured in House & Garden Magazine, Southern Living Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Elements of Style Blog, Furbish Studio, One Kings Lane, on the cover of Charleston Magazine, and in American Contemporary Art Magazine, Charleston Style & Design, and Coastal Isles Magazine.

Karin's art is represented at:
Gregg Irby Gallery in Atlanta, Georgia
Hillary Whitaker Gallery in Ponte Vedra Beach, Florida
Liz Lidgett Gallery in Des Moines, Iowa

   

Her art is in public collections at Medical University of South Carolina, Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center, Mayo Clinic Florida, The Ritz-Carlton, JW Marriot, and Ilya Corporation in Japan.

Karin is the 2015 recipient of the Griffith/Reyburn Lowcountry Artist of the Year Award. She is a former board member of Redux Contemporary Art Center. 

Karin has lived in Boulder Colorado, Brooklyn New York, Hilo Hawaii, Baltimore Maryland, Lititz Pennsylvania, and Manasquan, New Jersey. Charleston has been home since 2003 where she along with her husband Craig Knowlton and their 2 daughters enjoy playing golf, trips to the beach, hiking in the woods, and chasing after their labradoodle, Charlie.

Karin Olah's children being silly in her studio