Karen Kilimnik
Galerie Eva Presenhuber is pleased to present its ninth solo exhibition with the US-American artist Karen Kilimnik.
Since the late 1970s, Karen Kilimnik has consistently incorporated a wide variety of media into her work—from drawing and painting to collage, and mise-en-scène-sculpture to photography and video. Despite this openness to different media, her work follows a conceptual precision. Kilimnik operates with an iconographic archive that spans several centuries: from 17th- and 18th-century court painting to romantic landscapes and history painting to references to popular culture, fashion, television, and movies. However, these diverse image sources do not appear as linear art-historical quotations. Rather, they appear in Kilimnik’s works as cultural recurring forms—as pictorial formulas that have sedimented over the course of history and are becoming visible again in the present. Her images therefore often appear as multi-layered pictorial spaces: layers of art history, decor, popular culture, and fantasy overlap to form a peculiar pictorial world that seems both familiar and unsettling.
One possible approach to Karen Kilimnik’s work is to examine the concept of glamour, which is repeatedly used as a descriptive category in the reception of her work. In her work, glamour does not appear as mere glitz or luxurious surface but unfolds its meaning in the depth of its etymological origin. The word “glamour” dates to the Scottish glamer of the early 18th century and originally referred to a spell that deceives the eye and makes the world appear more beautiful than it is. This meaning, in turn, is derived from “grammar,” a term associated in the Middle Ages with scholarly, sometimes occult knowledge. In this sense, glamour refers less to beauty than to a form of knowledge and power over appearance—an artificially created, dazzling visibility.
Dr. Raphael Gygax
Karen Kilimnik is an American artist working across painting, drawing, photography, and installation. Her work has been presented in numerous international exhibitions, including NSU Art Museum, Fort Lauderdale (2023), Museum of Contemporary Art, Denver (2013), Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (2008), Aspen Art Museum (2007), Serpentine Gallery, London (2007), and Musée d'Art moderne de la Ville de Paris (2006). Works by Kilimnik are held in major public collections such as the Museum of Modern Art, New York; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; the Whitney Museum of American Art, New York; and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York. In fall 2026, Karen Kilimnik will be the subject of major solo exhibitions at Centro Pecci in Prato, Italy, and at the Kunstverein in Hamburg.
hidden
a world of perfection,
the hotel de Paris, Monte Carlo
2015
Water soluble oil color on canvas
Image 20.5 x 30.5 cm / 8 x 12 in
Frame 34 x 44 x 9.5 cm / 13 3/8 x 17 3/8 x 3 3/4 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Hotel de Paris, the royal suite foyer
1940's the Riviera or 1830's France
2015
Water soluble oil color on canvas
28.5 x 35.5 cm / 11 1/4 x 14 in
© Karen Kilimnik
The Egerton House hotel,
London - tea time
2007
Water soluble oil color on canvas
30.5 x 23 cm / 12 x 9 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the mirror of the Indian Ocean
2015
Water soluble oil color on canvas
45.5 x 35.5 x 2 cm / 18 x 14 x 3/4 in
© Karen Kilimnik
spring grazing in the Alps, Saint … christopher's day
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers on color xerox
20.5 x 26 cm / 8 x 10 1/4 in
© Karen Kilimnik
island of the flower rulers
2025
Acrylic on canvas
101 x 136 cm / 39 3/4 x 53 1/2 in
© Karen Kilimnik
flower shop, Mt Olympus
2026
Water soluble oil color on canvas
51 x 40.5 cm / 20 x 16 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the flower bouquet by the juggler magician
2026
Water soluble oil color on canvas
51 x 40.5 cm / 20 x 16 in
© Karen Kilimnik
flower Bouquet Mt Olympus
2026
Artificial flowers in glass vase on ancient victorian table
Approx. 180 x 110 x 110 cm / 70 7/8 x 43 1/4 x 43 1/4 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the liliputlin theater
2026
Water soluble oil, acrylic, Svarowski crystals and archival pigment print on
primed canvas
48.5 x 76 cm / 19 x 30 in
© Karen Kilimnik
The Queen of the tulips
2026
Water soluble oil, acrylic and archival pigment print on primed canvas
76 x 62 cm / 30 x 24 1/2 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the procession, Flower rulers village, the city
2026
Water soluble oil, acrylic and archival pigment print on primed canvas
38 x 77.5 cm / 15 x 30 1/2 in
© Karen Kilimik
speech by the rose, the mastermind
2026
Water soluble oil, acrylic and archival pigment print on primed canvas
30.5 x 45.5 cm / 12 x 18 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Miss France, the Mastermind
2026
Water soluble oil color on canvas
45.5 x 35.5 cm / 18 x 14 in
© Karen Kilimnik
our leader, the Rose, the Mastermind, secret meeting, Paris
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers on color xerox
Sheet 19 x 27.5 cm / 7 1/2 x 10 3/4 in
Frame 33 x 40.5 x 3 cm / 13 x 16 x 1 1/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the flower harvest, fairyland
2025
Water soluble oil, acrylic and archival pigment print on primed canvas
25.5 x 38 cm / 10 x 15 in
© Karen Kilimnik
shipwrecked on Flower Island
2026
Water soluble oil, acrylic and archival pigment print on primed canvas
35.5 x 61 cm / 14 x 24 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the Flower Rulers
2026
Water soluble oil, acrylic and archival pigment print on primed canvas
38 x 45.5 cm / 15 x 18 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the battle of Flower Lane
2026
Water soluble oil, acrylic and archival pigment print on primed canvas
35.5 x 45.5 cm / 14 x 18 in
© Karen Kilimnik
a cottage in the cornfield, farmer's nightmare
2026
Water soluble oil, acrylic and archival pigment print on primed canvas
38 x 32 cm / 15 x 12 1/2 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the Field Marshal
2026
Water soluble oil, acrylic and archival pigment print on primed canvas
38 x 84 cm / 15 x 33 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the Field Marshall, the start of a glittering campaign
2026
Water soluble oil, acrylic, rhinestones and archival pigment print on primed
canvas
33 x 45.5 cm / 13 x 18 in
© Karen Kilimnik
advanced field camouflage, aided by fairies
2026
Water soluble oil, acrylic and archival pigment print on primed canvas
29 x 37.5 cm / 11 1/2 x 14 3/4 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the Fairy Kingdom carriage
2026
Water soluble oil, acrylic, rhinestones and archival pigment print on primed
canvas
26.5 x 35.5 cm / 10 1/2 x 14 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the flower harvest, 1510
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers on color xerox
Sheet 10 x 15 cm / 3 7/8 x 5 7/8 in
Frame 25 x 29 x 2 cm / 9 7/8 x 11 3/8 x 3/4 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the elven carriage of gold
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers and acrylic on color xerox
Sheet 28 x 43 cm / 11 x 17 in
Frame 42 x 57 cm / 16 1/2 x 22 1/2 in
© Karen Kilimnik
fairy land vacation
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers and acrylic on color xerox
Sheet 28 x 43 cm / 11 x 17 in
Frame 42.5 x 57 x 2 cm / 16 3/4 x 22 1/2 x 3/4 in
© Karen Kilimnik
a spring day in the porcelaine world
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers on color xerox
28 x 36 cm / 11 x 14 1/4 in
© Karen Kilimnik
camouflage in the field, advance level
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers and acrylic on color xerox
Sheet 28 x 43 cm / 11 x 17 in
Frame 38.5 x 53 x 3 cm / 15 1/8 x 20 7/8 x 1 1/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
nature
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers and acrylic on color xerox
Sheet 28 x 43 cm / 11 x 17 in
Frame 38.5 x 53 x 3 cm / 15 1/8 x 20 7/8 x 1 1/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the fairie queen's carriage
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers and acrylic on color xerox
Sheet 28 x 43 cm / 11 x 17 in
Frame 38.5 x 53 x 3 cm / 15 1/8 x 20 7/8 x 1 1/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
nature, parrot island, fairy land
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers on color xerox
28 x 43 cm / 11 x 17 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the liliputlin theater
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers on color xerox
Sheet 10 x 15.5 cm / 3 7/8 x 6 1/8 in
Frame 23.5 x 28.5 x 3 cm / 9 1/4 x 11 1/4 x 1 1/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
getting ready for the trip, Birdland
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers on color xerox
28 x 43 cm / 11 x 17 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Common camouflage mistakes
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers and acrylic on color xerox
Sheet 28 x 43 cm / 11 x 17 in
Frame 41.5 x 56 x 3 cm / 16 3/8 x 22 x 1 1/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the get away car, the French Resistance - Tours, France
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers and acrylic on color xerox
Sheet 28 x 35 cm / 11 x 13 3/4 in
Frame 44 x 38 x 3 cm / 17 3/8 x 15 x 1 1/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
field craft, lessons in the field
2025
Collage with adhesive stickers on color xerox
20 x 42 cm / 7 7/8 x 16 1/2 in
© Karen Kilimnik
fairy magic in the mountains, fairy valley
2026
Water soluble oil, rhinestones, acrylic and archival pigment print on primed
canvas
35.5 x 45.5 cm / 14 x 18 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Russian Winter
2026
Painted and guilded italian side table with marble plate, 8 Fabergé
eggs, table, artificial snow
Dimensions variable
Sculpture 85.5 x ø 71 cm / 33 5/8 x ø 28 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Elton John's London home
2010
Water soluble oil color on canvas
28.5 x 35.5 cm / 11 1/8 x 14 in
© Karen Kilimnik
The head witche's house, reception room
2005
Water soluble oil on canvas
35.5 x 28 cm / 14 x 11 in
© Karen Kilimnik
Elton John’s London Living Room
2010
Water soluble oil color on canvas
23 x 30.5 cm / 9 x 12 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the reading room overlooking the park, December
2002
Water soluble oil color on canvas
61 x 45.5 cm / 24 x 18 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the Antichamber
2002
Water soluble oil color on canvas
64 x 48.5 cm / 25 1/4 x 19 1/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the Devil’s mark
2003
Water soluble oil color on canvas
45.5 x 60.5 x 3.5 cm / 17 7/8 x 23 7/8 x 1 3/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the magic medieval tapestry in the medieval hall
Leonardo DaVinci's home, Amboise
2019
Water soluble oil color and Diamond Dust ultrafine glitter on canvas
23 x 30.5 x 2.5 cm / 9 x 12 x 1 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the sheperdess room, half dressed
2003
watersoluble oil on canvas
51 x 40 x 2 cm / 20 1/8 x 15 3/4 x 3/4 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the cozy living room, the Cotswolds
2017
Water-soluble oil color on canvas
20.5 x 30.5 cm / 8 x 12 in
© Karen Kilimnik
home of the dewdrop fairy
1998
Water soluble oil color on canvas
45.5 x 61 cm / 18 x 24 in
© Karen Kilimnik
the Swedish workroom
2010
Water soluble oil color on canvas
20.5 x 25.5 cm / 8 1/8 x 10 1/8 in
© Karen Kilimnik
