carmen schaefer

About carmen schaefer

Carmen Schaefer is an acclaimed artist known for her evocative blending of realism and impressionism, creating deeply emotional visual narratives that invite viewers into the intricate layers of human experience. Raised in a Navy family, her transient upbringing instilled a sense of rootlessness that resonates through her work, reflecting themes of identity, memory, and emotion. Based in Rochester, NY, Schaefer's art traverses the realms of drawing, painting, and mixed media, capturing the poignant interplay of light and shadow, solitude, and the echoes of memory.

Schaefer's artistic journey is characterized by her distinctive use of black and white, as well as dynamic color on paper, employing a range of mark-making techniques to convey emotion and texture. Her compositions are crafted through successive layers of color, line, and texture, resulting in richly textured surfaces that demand exploration. The interplay of shadows and light in her work adds depth and emotion, often enveloping isolated figures and barren landscapes, echoing the tension between presence and absence, familiarity and nostalgia.

Her work has been widely recognized and featured in over 50 exhibitions across the globe, earning numerous awards for its introspective and haunting beauty. Notable accolades include the First Prize in Photography at the Parkersburg Art Center and the American Art Awards' Impressionism category winner in 2020. Schaefer's pieces are often described as "visual archives of emotion," offering a window into the complex layers of memory and solitude. She skillfully captures the quiet eloquence of empty spaces and ghost-like shadows, drawing viewers into the in-between spaces where memory settles.

Carmen Schaefer continues to push artistic boundaries from her lakeside cottage in Conesus Lake, NY, and her historic studio loft in Rochester. With an MFA and a commitment to lifelong learning, she remains driven by the thrill of artistic discovery, seeking to evolve as an artist and connect with audiences worldwide. Her long-term aspirations include gallery representation and continuing her exploration of the human touch in art, showing up for the ever-evolving conversation that her work embodies.