Karen Hawkins is a multimedia artist based in Austin. A graduate of The University of Texas, Karen has exhibited her work throughout her home state as well as California and Nevada.

Karen is currently relaunching an expansive installation known as The Pink Bow Project, at Bale Creek Allen Gallery in Fort Worth. The installation consists of thousands of pink hair bows, the ubiquitous symbol of a girl’s childhood innocence, affixed to white buckram panels which are hung from the gallery ceiling. Accompanying the bows is background audio of hundreds of voices of women united in reclaiming their power through the phrase, “My name is Karen. I was 10 years old.”

The aim of the piece, which will open in April in observance of National Child Abuse Prevention Month and National Sexual Assault Awareness month is to symbolically honor the many female survivors of childhood sexual abuse, which reportedly occurs every 9 minutes in our country.

Karen’s other works, which vary from sculptural wall hangings to site-specific installations, can be found in private collections across the United States. She has commissioned works throughout central Texas, including The W Hotel, the Archer Hotel, Facebook’s Austin Headquarters, Kendra Scott’s Austin Flagship store, Lumos Pharma Inc., as well as the Museum Tower Condominiums in Dallas, and the Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton, Ohio.

Karen and her husband have five children and four grandchildren. They currently live in Austin, Texas with their two dogs, Maxx and Stanley.