As an artist, Karen creates sculptures and objects in fiber and mixed media, using tools and techniques of domestic textile-making, or 'women's work’.  Her art has been exhibited in the US, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, and Korea.  She was a resident artist at New York Mills Cultural Center, New York Mills, MN, Mendocino Art Center, Mendocino, CA, and  Canberra School of Art Fibers Department, Canberra, Australia. She has curated exhibitions and served on jury panels for international design competitions. She received her MFA from Minneapolis College of Art and Design in 1999.

As a teacher and mentor, Karen has taught fiber arts classes and workshops at St. Catherine University, St. Paul, MN and workshops through Hamline University, St. Paul, MN in addition to classes and workshops at Textile Center of Minnesota, Weavers Guild of Minnesota and other local venues. She has presented  lectures and workshops to guilds and  textile arts conferences since 1976. She also served as a  mentor to emerging artists through the Women’s Art Registry of Minnesota.