Karen Dixon is a fused glass artist and teacher. Dixon has taught classes in Alabama since 2009, most recently teaching at the Birmingham Museum of Art. Dixon’s work has been exhibited throughout the southeast at juried gallery and museum exhibitions.
She has received numerous awards including the Maury Smith Award at the Montgomery Museum of Fine Art, Montgomery art Guild Fine Art Exhibition.
Dixon trained as a research scientist which has been instrumental in her commitment to fine craftsmanship and attention to detail. It is this love of experimentation that continues to drive her technical development in kiln-formed glass.
In addition to her art career, Dixon is the Assistant Director at The Horizons School, a post-secondary private school for young adults with learning difficulties, autism spectrum, and developmental disorders.
Karen has been married to her husband Tom for nearly 33 years. She has one son, Jess and Daughter-in-law, Darcy.
ARTIST STATEMENT
I love glass! The way the light shines through it to cast colors across a room or how it creates an internal glow that is unique in each piece. The inspiration for my work comes from nature, textures and unique color combinations and is heavily influenced by mid-century design. The many techniques used in kiln-formed glass allow for endless ways in which to express my creative concepts. I am currently working with texture and color flow in kiln cast sculptural and functional glass. The addition of texture to the work invites the viewer for a closer look and touch to better understand the composition. Much of my work requires multiple techniques and numerous kiln firings to achieve the desired look. My pieces consist of a combination of techniques to achieve a design that captures an emotional moment of beauty by creating an interaction between light and the translucency and texture of the glass
