June 3, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Captivating Career Retrospective: SMC Exhibits Faculty Member Anne Marie Karlsen’s Illustrious Career

By Sam Skopp

 

After being hired by UCLA in 1979 as one of the youngest female art department faculty members in the school’s history, Anne Marie Karlsen transitioned into a position to Santa Monica College (SMC), where she has been a faculty member for a number of years. Starting on February 20 and lasting through March 24, the Susan Barrett Art Gallery, located at the SMC Performing Arts Center, will be exhibiting works from throughout Karlsen’s career, beginning in 1986 and going into the 2010s, including both private studio works and exhibitions of public artworks she’s been commissioned to create throughout Southern California.

Among these is “Wheels,” a large piece she was commissioned to design by the City of Santa Monica that is now displayed on the side of a parking garage at Santa Monica Place. Karlsen explained that visually, the shape of this piece is meant to resemble a hubcap, evoking the nature of the parking garage, while within components of the hubcap-shape are images of the Santa Monica Pier’s historic Ferris wheel at night.

“A lot of doing public artwork is working what we call ‘site specifically,’” Karlsen said, explaining that the final version of a public art project is ultimately adapted to the site in which its exhibited.

Another of her public works featured in the gallery is a mosaic located at the Nordhoff Station metro stop in the San Fernando Valley. Photos of the finished work are displayed alongside what were essentially prototypes for the final piece, which were eventually re-created out of hand-cut stone pieces and refit to the specifications of the Nordhoff Station space.

These are two works in a career of almost 30 public art pieces beginning with her first commission in 1991.

“I’ve been quite active in the public art field since then,” Karlsen said. “We had been discussing for several years the idea of doing a retrospective which combines my studio work, which is kind of my private work, with the large scale, public architectural works I do.

Additionally, her private studio works span a number of mediums. Her oldest pieces, from 1986, are mixed media paintings, incorporating photographs and a layered canvas, while other works in the gallery are prints, billboard banners, glass works and more.

For more information on Anne Marie Karlsen and both her public artwork and her studio works, visit annemariekarlsen.com.

Various works in the exhibit.

Photos: Sam Skopp
Related Posts

A Season of Gratitude: After One Year in Business, Urban Jungle Continues Making its Mark

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Over the last year, Urban Jungle, an indoor and tropical plants nursery, has continued its mission to cultivate a place...

The soul’s greatest hits

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

From ‘Ave Maria’ to ‘Hallelujah Chorus’ and ‘Ode to Joy,” a Santa Monica concert raising funds to help fire victims...

LAPD Increases Security at Jewish Sites Following Colorado Flamethrower Attack

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Officials Ramp Up Patrols and Plan Emergency Response as Shavuot Concludes. Security outside Jewish institutions in Los Angeles has been...

The Peabody Awards Celebrate Bold Storytelling and Social Impact at Beverly Hills Gala

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Honorees Including Baby Reindeer, Shōgun, and The Only Doctor at In-Person Ceremony The Peabody Awards held their awards ceremony Sunday...

Chamber Music Palisades Presents an Afternoon of Beethoven, Brahms, Debussy, and More

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Brentwood Hosts Free Classical Concert with LA Philharmonic Greats Chamber Music Palisades will present a free community concert on Saturday,...

Massive Fire Engulfs Auto Shop, Shuts Down 10 Freeway Eastbound Lanes

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Explosions, Thick Smoke, and Downed Power Lines Disrupt Traffic in Palms A fast-moving fire broke out Sunday behind a commercial...

Alpine Floor & Home: A Legacy of Quality Since 1968

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Founded in 1968 with a single location, Alpine Floor & Home began as a humble family business with a clear...

Chin Chin to Close West Hollywood Location After 45 Years of Service

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

Iconic Sunset Plaza Restaurant Announces Final Day of Operations Chin Chin, the iconic Chinese eatery that has been a fixture...

LACMA’s $700M David Geffen Galleries to Open in 2026

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

New Structure Will Replace Original Midcentury Buildings Construction crews are entering the final stretch on the David Geffen Galleries, a...

Criterion Mobile Closet Arrives in L.A. for Two-Day Stop at Santa Monica’s Aero Theatre

June 2, 2025

June 2, 2025

More Than 1,000 Classic Titles June 6–7 During American Cinematheque’s Bleak Week  Following its successful appearances at SXSW and Vidiots...

Lane Closures Return to PCH in Malibu for Fire Recovery and Emergency Repairs

June 1, 2025

June 1, 2025

Traffic Will Be Impacted as Caltrans and the USACE Conduct Cleanup  The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) has announced updated...

Update: Police Non-Emergency Line Temporarily Down Due to Service Outage in Culver City

June 1, 2025

June 1, 2025

Emergency 9-1-1 Services Remain Active; Alternate Numbers are Available  UPDATE – Monday, June 2 at 7:25 am The Culver City...

Culver City to Frame Iconic Tree with Landmark Sculpture by Charles Gaines

June 1, 2025

June 1, 2025

Acclaimed Conceptual Artist’s Public Artwork Enters Final Phase Culver City is moving forward with the final phase of an ambitious...

Defensible Space, Defined: How A Plus Tree Protects Communities from Wildfire

May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025

In the wildfire-prone landscapes of the Western United States, safeguarding homes and communities requires proactive measures. A Plus Tree, a...

WeHo Pride Weekend Begins and 2025 Icons Announced: Parades, Concerts, and Community Celebration Kicks Off

May 30, 2025

May 30, 2025

Three-Day LGBTQ+ Festival Features Performances by Lizzo, Maren Morris, and Kim Petras West Hollywood is preparing to kick off its...