I started painting in 2020 during the first lockdown. After a few feeble attempts at baking banana bread, my roommates and I decided to invest in a painting kit from Amazon instead, et voilà, ‘Artist Mode’ was activated.
Women and weather are my inspiration. All my paintings revolve around women in some way, and the climate where I paint them will inevitably depict the mood.
St Barth was the birthplace of my “Deconstructed Bodies” series which features animated bodies, fruits (particularly eggplants) and bold colours.
These themes came to life after more lunches than I’d care to admit at Eden Rock, where I’d settle in by the sea for people watching accompanied by my sketchpad, margaritas and an acai bowl.
Karolina Karlsson is a Swedish-American artist based between St. Barths and New York. Her work has been exhibited at Saatchi Gallery (Focus Art Fair London), Miami Art Week, Artists of St. Barth, and her Manhattan studio.
Spending much of her time painting in St. Barths, Karolina draws inspiration from the island’s relaxed atmosphere, capturing the human form, food, and minimalist patterns. She explores proportion and color to create visually striking compositions that balance playful imagery with a refined, understated tone.
Her Deconstructed Bodies and Cuddle Puddle series share a common language of animated figures, bold colors, and organic forms—reflecting the island’s influence on her creative process. Additionally, her Islander series, an offshoot of Two-Face, reimagines the island’s shape as the cheek, incorporating local staples like the Mini Moke, Pilatus, and regatta boats within the head of each piece. Each work embodies a moment shaped by both the subject and the environment in which it was created.
download the catalogue
