About

Bio:

Hi, my name is Kara Neary. I am a multidisciplinary artist based and living in Chicago, working primarily with inked automatic drawings. Alongside drawing, I paint, sew, animate, and experiment with found materials. My practice engages with the unknown and the forgotten, seeking to transform what is hidden into what can be seen and understood. I am currently completing my BFA at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago in 2026.

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

Karaneary0@gmail.com

Instagram: @eerieneary

EDUCATION

2024 - 2026 School of the Art Institute of Chicago (SAIC), Chicago, Illinois
BFA in Studio, Merit Scholarship Recipient

SELECTED EXHIBITIONS

2024 Pancakes & Booze Art Market, Reggies Bar, Chicago, IL

2024 Upward Gallery Pastel Exhibition, Online

2022 Indigo Kid Art Competition, Online

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

Moraine Valley High School Exhibition, Palos Hills, IL

Victor J. Andrew Art Exhibition, Tinley Park, IL

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE

2025 SAIC Free Radio Art of Sound Artist Interview, MacLean Building, Chicago, IL

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

2023 Tony Fitzpatrick Studio Artist Assistant, Chicago, IL

2022 - 2023 Piece Unik Fashion Show + Auction, Los Angeles, CA & Online

AWARDS & RECOGNITION

2024 Finalist – Upward Gallery Pastel Online Exhibition

2022 1st Place – Indigo!Kid Online Art Competition

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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