The Lines and Curves Book, launched as part of the Arts to Hearts Project’s “Virtual Exhibition + Artist’s Book” initiative, is the result of a global open call inviting women artists to showcase their work in both a digital exhibition and a beautifully designed artist’s book. The project aims to honor and support the creative talents of women artists by providing them with two platforms to share their art and stories.

Launched in 2024, this initiative is the second edition of the Arts to Hearts dual-format series. It serves as a comprehensive collection, highlighting the diverse practices and perspectives of contemporary women artists.

The cover of The Lines and Curves Book features stunning photography by Karen Safer. Her work not only enhances the book’s visual appeal but also reflects her exceptional talent, solidifying her place as a leading figure in the world of photography. This book is a true celebration of creativity and innovation, making it a timeless addition to any collection.

Who is Karen Safer?

Karen Safer is an accomplished photographic artist, documentarian, published writer, and poet with a unique musical bent whose life and work have spanned over five decades. A native Angelino and a fifth-generation Californian, Safer’s artistic journey began at a tender age when she was given a camera and crayons at just three years old. This early exposure to creativity, coupled with the iconic elements of California—light, palm trees, the ocean, music, and vernacular architecture—shaped her distinctive left-handed aesthetic and laid the foundation for a lifelong love of visual exploration.

Safer’s upbringing played a pivotal role in her artistic development. Raised by two educators—her father, a calligrapher and photographer who developed black and white photos in their washroom-turned-darkroom, and her mother, whose passion for history, language, and travel instilled a thirst for knowledge—Karen was surrounded by a deep appreciation for both art and education. This blend of influences helped spark her curiosity and inspired her to capture the world around her from an early age, documenting family events and her personal surroundings with a camera in hand.

Early Life and Education

Karen’s academic path was just as unconventional as her artistic journey. She began her formal education at Santa Monica College, where she earned an Associate of Arts in fine arts with a music minor in 1972. She then continued her studies at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), where she graduated cum laude in 1974 with a Bachelor of Arts in art history. Safer’s intellectual and artistic ambitions continued to thrive, culminating in a Master of Arts in art and architectural history from California State University, Long Beach, in 1981. Her academic accomplishments set the stage for a career that combined her love of the arts with a deep understanding of history and design.

The Evolution of Her Artistic Vision

Safer’s early immersion in photography began with simple snapshots but quickly evolved as she moved from instamatics to professional cameras like Nikons. Throughout her life, she explored different forms of artistic expression, from painting and printmaking to art and architectural history, all of which contributed to her eventual focus on photography. Influenced by historical artists ranging from Mesopotamian art to Vermeer, Matisse, Atget, and even contemporary artists like Cindy Sherman, Safer developed a unique visual language that blends formal precision with accidental beauty, capturing the world in unexpected yet captivating ways.

Her deep love for travel also shaped her artistic vision. By the time she was a pre-teen, Karen had begun her life of travel, which took her to over 230 countries and territories around the globe. This exposure to diverse cultures and landscapes nurtured her fascination with the exotic while fine-tuning her eye for the formal, the accidental, and the unusual. In her own words, she was “subliminally seeking the beautiful that jiggles the lens/frame of [her] eye.”

Themes and Aesthetic

Karen’s photographic style is heavily influenced by her surroundings and life experiences. Her work encompasses a wide range of themes, from the light and architecture of California to the beauty of the exotic landscapes she encountered during her travels. Her photographs often explore the formal, the accidental, and the unusual, seeking out moments of beauty that might otherwise be overlooked.

A self-described “romantic soul,” Karen’s artistic practice is deeply personal. Her visual language is a reflection of her intellectual curiosity and emotional depth. She views photography as a way of capturing the essence of the world around her, much like music—unifying people from all walks of life, transcending nationalities, races, and creeds. Through her art, Karen believes that images have the power to lift spirits, to heal, and to connect people on a deeper level.

Exhibitions and Recognition

Karen Safer’s photography career began in earnest in the 1980s when she began exhibiting her work in both national and international exhibitions. Over the years, she has participated in more than 10 solo shows and 200+ juried and group exhibitions in cities across the globe, including London, Rome, Glasgow, Zurich, Barcelona, Athens, Paris, and Amsterdam. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including National Geographic Partners, magazines, and catalogs, and her photographs have been included in both public and private collections around the world.

Safer’s ability to capture life through her lens earned her the title “Monet of Playa del Rey” during the COVID-19 pandemic, when she continued to photograph the changing landscapes from her balcony. This period marked a return to exhibiting her work after a 12-year hiatus, and her photographs continued to resonate with audiences worldwide. Throughout her career, Safer has earned more than 160 awards in various competitions, including First, Talent, Merit, and Honorable Mentions, solidifying her status as a world-class photographer.

Art as a Lifelong Journey of Expression for Karen

Safer is not just a photographer but a deeply philosophical artist who believes that art has the power to uplift the human spirit. In her view, images are universal expressions that transcend language, nationality, race, and creed.

As Safer thoughtfully puts it!

Artists are the vessels of expression through which vision passes back to the world

In addition to her photography, Safer has contributed to the arts in various capacities. She is the principal and creative director of ArtFocus International and KJS Productions and has held creative management roles with prestigious firms such as Kimberly Baer Design Associates, Altoon & Porter Architects, and Skidmore Owings & Merrill International. She is also a founding member of the Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles and holds memberships in several art organizations, including the Los Angeles Art Association and the Los Angeles Center for Photography.

Her belief in the power of art extends beyond photography, as she has also published two books of poetry and contributed to several poetry collections and anthologies. Safer continues to explore the intersections of visual art and the written word, embracing a lifelong commitment to creativity in all its forms.