Karen Guthrie (born 1970) is an artist that works with public art, installation, film making, and internet publishing that lives and works in the Lake District. Most of her work is done in collaboration with Nina Pope. Guthrie and Pope started working together as a collaborative duo in 1995 on projects that "enrich and inform public life"and they founded creative non-profit Somewhere (artist collective) in 2001.
Karen Guthrie attended the Edinburgh College of Art from 1987 to 1991, receiving a BA in Printmaking. She attended the Royal College of Art in London from 1991 to 1993, receiving a MA in Printmaking.
Guthrie began working with Nina Pope in 1995. She was part of an artist collective called The People From Off, which contributed to 'A Different Weekend' with their 'Festival of Lying'. Its members included Nina Pope, Anna Best, and Simon Poulter. Karen works on many public arts projects including initiatives with Grizedale Arts, including their website and land garden development projects. Guthrie and Pope founded Somewhere (artist collective), a creative non-profit to produce collaborative projects of interests.
The Closer We Get, as director & co-producer (2014), uncovering her own families hidden storiesJaywick Escapes, as co-director & co-producer (2012) The View From My House, directed and edited films made with inmates of HMP Preston (2008)Cat Fancy Club, as co-director & co-producer (2008) Almanac, artist & collaborator (2007)Little Deluxe Living, co-directed and produced (2007)Living with the Tudors, researched, wrote, directed & produced (aka Sometime Later) (2007)Life-size Lilliput (2006)Bata-ville: We are not afraid of the future, co-produced, wrote, directed & distributed (2005) Welcome To, Writer, director & producer (2003) Exhibitions, commissions, and other projects
Tomorrow, Today 2014 - University of Cambridge NW Cambridge public art commissionPast, Present, Somewhere 2014 - Retrospective solo show, Kettle's Yard, CambridgeArt Lending Library 2012 - Contributing artists to project by Walker & Bromwich, Glasgow International Festival, Market GalleryThe Floating Cinema, London 2011 – ongoingCan Art Save Us? 2010 - Millennium Galleries, Sheffield. Multiple 'Titchy/Kitschy' shown in Grizedale Arts contribution Abbey Gardens, What Will The Harvest Be? Commissioned by London Borough of Newham 2009 – ongoingA Circle of Happiness, Jaywick Martello Tower 2009Schnucken, Elefanten und andere Gastgeschenke 2009 - Kunstverein Springhornhof, Germany. Multiple 'Titchy/Kitschy' shown in myvillages.org Agrifashionista.tv - Commissioned by A Foundation & Grizedale Arts for Rochelle School, London. Two projects - Karen Guthrie's 'The Grotto' (postponed indefinitely) and a musical collaboration 'A Song for a Circus' between Nina Pope and Tim OldenBroadcast Yourself 2007 - TV swansong archive exhibited as part of group show at Hatton Gallery (Newcastle) and Cornerhouse (Manchester)Almanac, Public art commission for the redevelopment of Cinema City, Norwich 2007Seven Samurai & Return of the Seven Samurai (2007)Sometime Later, Commissioned by BBC & Arts Council England, 2006Pilot 3 2007 - Selected for archive for artists & curators, shown at Atelier Bevilacqua, Venice Biennale (Italy)Romantic Detachment, Video work, group show, PS1, New York City & touring to Q in Derby, Folly in Lancaster & Chapter in Cardiff 2004London Underground Platform for Art, Featured artists 2003Live Culture, Curators exhibitors, video programme, Tate Modern, London 2003TV Swansong, Nationwide public art site-specific webcast project commissioning eight artists and curators 2002The Festival of Lying 2000 - Live event & web cast with Anna Best & Simon Poulter; Grizedale Show, Cumbria, UK Awards and honors
2008 Northern Art Prize awarded to Karen Guthrie and Nina Pope2010 Karen Guthrie and Nina Pope's new media installation ‘An Artist’s Impression’ was acquired by the Science Museum, London2015 At the Hot Docs film festival in Toronto, Guthrie's The Closer We Get awarded the juried Best International Feature Documentary Award