Karen Gunderson Debuts New Exhibition in New York
The artist presents Dark Waves Rising, featuring two series of works titled Moon and Water, at the Yancey Richardson gallery.
Updated on Oct. 22, 2026 in Fine Art
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Artist Karen Gunderson has returned to New York for her first solo exhibition in a decade with the opening of Dark Waves Rising. The showcase at the Yancey Richardson gallery presents her latest paintings, marking her first use of blue pigments.
Why it matters
The Moon paintings were developed as an artistic critique of corporate interests exploring advertising in space. The exhibition highlights Gunderson's ongoing focus on nature and light through textured, light-shifting brushwork.
This exhibition marks a significant return for Gunderson, who has maintained a 60-year career and received the Anonymous Was a Woman Award in 2020. She joined the Yancey Richardson gallery in 2025.
The players
Karen Gunderson
She is an artist who received a degree in Intermedia from the University of Iowa in 1968 and was awarded the Anonymous Was a Woman Award in 2020.
Yancey Richardson
This is a New York City gallery that began representing Karen Gunderson in 2025.
Margaret Andera
She is a participant in the gallery-hosted conversation scheduled for November 7th.
The details
Gunderson works from a studio in Coxsackie, New York, creating canvases by projecting photographic references taken from areas like the Hudson River and Cape Cod. She uses specialized brushwork to build three-dimensional textures that appear to shimmer and shift depending on the viewer's angle and available light.
Timeline
October 22, 2026: The exhibition opening date.
November 7, 2026: Conversation between Gunderson and Margaret Andera.
December 19, 2026: The exhibition closing date.
Industry Dynamics
Gunderson's return to the New York solo exhibition circuit reflects a broader trend of veteran artists integrating modern environmental critiques into traditional canvas media. This shift highlights how established artists are utilizing their decades of experience to navigate contemporary debates on space and ecology.
The public can view the new exhibition at the Yancey Richardson gallery through December 19, 2026. Visitors interested in the artist's process can attend the scheduled conversation event on November 7th.
The takeaway
Gunderson's work demonstrates how artists can use traditional painting techniques to engage with modern technological concerns. Her shift to blue pigments provides a new visual lens for audiences to experience her signature light-sensitive textures.
What happens next
Yancey Richardson will host a public conversation between Karen Gunderson and Margaret Andera on November 7, 2026.
Further reading
Learn more about the latest exhibitions in the city by exploring our Fine Art coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Artdaily.
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