About

Bio:

Kara Neary is a multidisciplinary artist based in Chicago, working primarily with inked automatic drawings. Her practice engages the unknown and the forgotten, using intuitive mark-making to transform what is hidden into visible form. Working across drawing, painting, sewing, animation, and found materials, she explores the space between control and emergence. She is currently completing her BFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, graduating in 2027.

Artist Statement:

My work is driven by a need to explore the unknown both within myself and the world around me. Art, for me, is not only expression but a way of seeking truth and understanding. Through figurative, abstracted forms and automatic gestures, created with ink, paint, animation, and experimentation with found materials, I aim to reveal hidden layers of the subconscious and invite viewers into their own spaces of reflection.

Each piece becomes a dialogue between artwork and observer, a gateway into the complexities of human consciousness. I intend to create work that serves as both a mirror and a map reflecting our emotions and struggles while guiding us toward deeper self-awareness. In my experimental process, I aim to open a space where others can uncover their own truths and connections within the shared human experience.

CV:

KARA NEARY

eerieneary@gmail.com

Instagram: @eerieneary

Website: https://www.eerieneary.com/

EDUCATION

2024 - 2027 School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Chicago, Illinois
BFA in Studio, Merit Scholarship Recipient

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2026 "Paredoila", ShadowBoxX Gallery, Waukegan, IL

2026 Pancakes & Booze Art Market, Reggies Bar, Chicago, IL

2024 Pancakes & Booze Art Market, Reggie's Bar, Chicago, IL

2024 Pastel Competition, Upward Gallery, Online

2023 Piece Unik Fashion Show + Auction, Los Angeles, CA

2022 Piece Unik Fashion Show + Auction, Los Angeles, CA

2022 Art Competition, Indigo Kid!, Online

2019 Illinois High School Art Exhibition(IHSAE), Zhou B + Bridgeport Art Center, Chicago, IL

Moraine Valley High School Exhibition, Palos Hills, IL

Victor J. Andrew Art Exhibition, Tinley Park, IL

SELECTED PUBLICATIONS

2025 SAIC Free Radio Art of Sound Artist Interview, School of the Art Institute of Chicago,

MacLean Building, Chicago, IL

2025 Featured Splash Page Illustrations, Lomaho’s Every Star Zine Issue 2 & Issue 3

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

2024 School of the Art Institute of Chicago Galleries, Student Gallery Assistant, Chicago, IL

2023 Tony Fitzpatrick Studio, Artist Assistant, Chicago, IL

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

2024 Merit Scholarship Recipient, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL

2024 Finalist, Upward Gallery Pastel Exhibition, Online

2022 1st Place, Indigo!Kid Art Competition, Online

2019 Best in Show, Victor J. Andrew Art Exhibition, Tinley Park, IL

2019 2nd Place, Moraine Valley High School Exhibition, Palos Hills, IL

2019 Honorable Mention, Illinois High School Art Exhibition (IHSAE), Bridgeport, Chicago, IL

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