Karaya - Awakening of the soul
Painting for me is pure alchemy – driven entirely by the energy of emotions that need transmuting through my paint-covered hands, which channel the energy and transform it into a dance of vibrant colours on the canvas. My desire is for the observer to deeply connect with my work- for it to awaken something in their soul that has long laid dormant. – Karaya
Karaya began painting in 2021 following a series of very significant and devastating life events. The artist describes her desire to paint as a compulsion, rather than a conscious decision, “My creative energy just erupted from within.” She explains. Indeed, Kaya’s flowing energy is powerfully present within every one of her paintings. Her work is instantly recognisable for its vivid colour palette and dynamic mark-making. Works such as Home, Elevate, Root and First Born, document the artist’s emotion and energy across various surfaces, from tree roots and cork sheets to traditional canvas. Inspired by her Reiki practice, Karaya’s process is deeply intuitive and spontaneous.
Home Acrylic paint and ink on canvas /91X61cm
First Born Acrylic paint and ink / 91.5 x 61 cm
Elevate
Hand painted with acrylic paint and ink on canvas
91 x 122 cm
Colour plays a significant role in Karaya’s work. “I particularly love iridescent and fluorescent colours, so you’ll see these in many if not all of my pieces. Colours have their own vibration and correlate with your chakras. Sometimes when I finish a piece, I will step back and look at it for a while and I can see where the energy was being released from based on which colours I used. It still amazes me that my paintings are so vibrant and colourful because the emotions that took me to the canvas were most often heavy, dark and painful.”
The artist hopes to invoke a visceral response in the viewer, communicating something beyond the rational and academic in favour of meaning that is emotional and essential. Karaya sees her practice as a method of creative healing that can inspire others. She explains, “I hope that when people read my story and see my work that they are inspired by the healing power of expressing your creative energy and how much of a positive impact this can have on your life, how it can pull you from the depths of despair and save you. It’s a lesson in taking your pain, sitting with it and then alchemising it from the darkness into something beautiful.”
Feel the love, follow your heart / acrylic paint and ink / 39.5 x 70 cm
The future looks bright for the London-based international artist. Her approach to her work reflects her view on life, “I am very fortunate to have a lot of international exhibitions in the pipeline for 2025, so I am excited to watch the year unfold. I live my life in a way that is totally in flow with the universe and its plan for me.” In bursts of energy, colour, light and form, Kaya’s paintings emerge organically from deep within her soul. The artist summarises, “It’s as if I stand aside and I let the creative energy flow through me so that I become creator and observer all at the same time.”