Karin Miller is a South African artist whose work is bold and thought provoking. You may have seen her art pinned around Pinterest or perhaps you’ve been lucky enough to see her work hanging on the walls of the Holzen Manz Collection and Gallery in Franschhoek. Our dive in to South African culture this spring lead us to Karin and we’re so thankful she took the time to answer a few questions for Studio T.
Your pieces are unique, layered, and complex. Give us some insight on their background and how they’re created.
I must say my work is quite intuitive. I have a feel for my strong cultural background and I am inspired by my environment. I collect ideas and images and scan them into my computer. I also take photographs of people who appeal to me to use in my work. Once I have most of my elements ready, I start doing my artwork in Photoshop and it is a very lengthy process because I am quite obsessive about details.
How do you think art has evolved with technology?
I was trained as a Graphic designer, and for that reason I evolved with technology and I love playing around and experimenting with art on my computer.
How has the South African culture influenced the aesthetic of your work?
I love people of different colors and cultures and also to use them in my work. I find the evolving south african culture and social dynamics of racial and cultural relationships fascinating.
We were enamored with the Protea flower as you may be able to tell from a number of pieces in our spring collection! Is there anything native to South Africa in particular that you find yourself drawing inspiration from?
There are so many elements of that I draw inspiration from. I love the aloe plant in all its forms at the moment, and the more I start studying a plant, the more fascinating and beautiful it becomes to me.
What’s a typical day in the life of Karin Miller consist of?
I spend just about every day working in my studio at home. Not because I have to, but because I want to.
Do you have any favorite South African artists we should know about?
Conrad Botes
On our next trip to South Africa, where is one place we must visit that may have been overlooked as a first-time tourist?
Perhaps the simplicity and the vastness of the Karoo.
Finish this sentence: “To me, art is…not that serious.”
