Hi, I’m Karly Richlinski, a visual and graphic design artist based in Chicago, currently attending the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. I’m pursuing a BFA in Studio Art with a concentration in painting, and set to graduate in May 2025. As an interdisciplinary artist, I thrive on experimenting with various mediums, blending concepts to create bold, vibrant works that showcase my distinct flair for color and composition. 

My artwork explores portraiture and still life, brought to life through oils, ink, and charcoal. I love playing with color and texture, often starting with photography that I transform into expressive compositions. Beyond painting, I explore printmaking, drawing, and graphic design. Pushing boundaries and trying new things are defining parts of my practice, as is conveying emotion through contrast, saturation, and brushstroke.

I draw inspiration from close relationships with those around me, memories from my personal life experiences, and stylistic inspiration from contemporary impressionism. My passion for the outdoors inspires my recent work, leading me to explore new avenues of subject matter and dive into investigative research. The foundational inspiration for my recent work comes from my efforts to connect with my childhood self and the lived experiences she encountered outside, observing the native flora and fauna around her while growing up in the northern suburbs of Chicago. My childhood was a magical time, and by playing with color, medium, and style, I can translate this whimsical era into a physical manifestation of my memories. What’s most special to me about my childhood memories is the place where I grew up. Northern Illinois is defined by temperate forests, grasslands, savannas, and shrublands. My hometown of Mundelein, Illinois, being a short fifteen-minute drive to Lake Michigan, was also a defining aspect of my childhood. Times of splashing around the pebbly beach, climbing through the brush of the woodlands, and going for long bike rides through the prairie are all key experiences from my childhood that I find myself escaping to at this time in my life, as I’m about to graduate from college. With my new work, I’d like to capture the sweet feelings of these memories. Everything was big and bright and fascinating when I was little – now, at 22 years old, I’d like to find my way back to that disposition.

Curious to see what I’m working on? Take a look around!