Karen Mobley is a working artist and poet. Her work is in numerous private and corporate collections. She reads and performs poetry at events through the region.
She served as Artist In Residence at Laboratory in 2018 and the North Spokane Library in October 2017. She was artist in residence at the AIR Paducah in Kentucky in September 2016. Karen was artist in residence at Jentel Artist in Residency program in Wyoming in 2016. Karen was artist in residence at Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts and attended LitEDGE at Centrum in 2015.
She served as the Arts Director City of Spokane (Spokane Arts Commission) from June 1997 to October 2012. Karen provides art consulting services to Spokane Arts, ArtsWA, and the Spokane Public Facilities District as well as other clients. Karen is active in Rotary 21 and Westminster Congregational United Church of Christ.
Resumé
KAREN R. MOBLEY
3515 S. Lee Street
Spokane, WA 99203
(509) 624-5764 (studio)/ (509) 499-0784 (cell)
karen@karenmobley.com
RESIDENCY
Laboratory, Spokane Interactive Arts, Spokane, WA, 2018
The Lab, North Spokane Library, Spokane, WA, 2017
AIR Paducah, Paducah, KY, 2016
Jentel Foundation, Banner, WY, 2016
Brush Creek Foundation for the Arts, Saratoga, WY, 2015
ONE PERSON EXHIBITIONS
Spokane Public Library, South Hill, Spokane WA, 2025
Barrister, Spokane, WA, 2025
D2 Gallery, Spokane, WA, 2024
Entropy Gallery, Spokane, WA, 2024
Wiley, Spokane, WA, 2024
Spokane Pavilion, Spokane, WA 2023
Spokane Art School, Spokane, WA, 2023
Spokane Public Library, Indian Trail, Spokane, WA, 2023
Spokane Public Library, South Hill, Spokane, WA, 2023
Moses Lake Art Museum, Moses Lake, WA, 2020
Iron Goat, Spokane, WA 2019
Analog Art Intervention in various natural areas and parks in Spokane, 2018
Spokane Public Library, Downtown, 2018
North Spokane Library, Spokane, WA, 2017
The Big Drawing, Window Dressing, Downtown Spokane, 2016
V du V, Spokane, WA, 2015
Patit Creek Cellars, Spokane, WA 2014
Spokane Public Library Downtown, Spokane, WA, 2014
Clearstory Gallery, Spokane, WA, 2012
NAC Architecture, Spokane, WA, 2010
Mobius, Spokane, WA, 2007
Good Works Gallery, Spokane, WA, 2005
Unitarian Church, Spokane, WA, 2005
Kress Gallery, Spokane, WA, 2004
Whitworth College, Koehler Gallery, Spokane, WA, 2004
First Night Spokane, 2003, 2004, 2005
Spokane Art School, Spokane, WA, 2000
North Idaho College, Corner Gallery, Coeur D’Alene, ID, 1999
Spotlight Gallery, Spokane, WA, 1999
“Drawings, Paintings, and Poetry”, The Art Gallery at Auntie’s, 1997
One West Art Space, Fort Collins, CO, 1997
Drawings, Gallery 234, University of Wyoming, Laramie, 1995
“Landscape and Text,” Stone School House Gallery, Shell, WY, 1995
“Prairie, Wind, Winter,” Wyoming Arts Council Gallery, Cheyenne, WY, 1995
Cam-Plex Gallery, Gillette, WY, 1995
“Sky, Ground, Blizzard, Prairie,” Casper College, Fine Arts Gallery, Casper, WY, 1995
“Drawings from Nature”, Dartmouth College, Lower Hewitt Exhibition Corridor, Hanover, MA, 1991 (with Joyce Fillip)
Drawings, SRO Theatre, El Paso, TX, 1988
Thesis Exhibition, Litewell Gallery, University of Oklahoma, 1987
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
Emanations, with John DeRoulet, Cat Truong, and Dennis Smith, 2025
Something About Farming, with Pam Deutschman, Abbie Evans, and Megan Perkins, 2024
Watercolor Exhibition curated by Tobe Harvey, Gonzaga University Urban Art Center, 2023
Creation 2022 Art Show, St. John’s Cathedral, Spokane, 2022
Elemental with Rosemary Barile and Deb Sheldon, Barrister Winery, Spokane, 2022
Rising Above with Rosemary Barile and Deb Sheldon, Terrain Gallery, Washington Cracker Building, Spokane, 2021
Stroke of Nature with Caren Furbeyre, Lila Girvin, Megan Martens Haworth, Louise Kodis, Melissa Lang, Terrain Gallery, Washington Cracker Building, Spokane, 2019
Spokane Public Library Downtown, with Mariah Boyle, 2019
Marmot Art Space, Spokane, WA 2018
Terrain, Jensen Byrd Building, Spokane, WA, 2018
Land/Escape with Mariah Boyle, Roin Morigeau, John DeRoulet and Ellen Picken, Terrain Gallery, Washington Cracker Building, Spokane, WA, 2018
CLOSE IN Series: 1st Inland Northwest Juried Landscape Art Exhibition, Jundt Art Museum, Gonzaga University, Spokane, WA, 2018
New Moon Gallery, Spokane, WA, 2018 with Larry Montgomery
Spokane Public Library Downtown with Todd Benson and Stefani Rossi, 2017
29th Avenue Art Works, Spokane, WA, 2017
The Art Spirit, 20th Anniversary Exhibition, Spokane, WA 2017
Kolva/Sullivan, Spokane, 2017
Winter Narrative, Little Dog, Spokane, WA 2016
Spokane Art School Faculty, Spokane Public Library, 2016
Terrain, Washington Cracker Building, Spokane, WA 2016
Kaleidescope Flash, Little Dog, Spokane, WA 2016
Juried Show, Avenue West Gallery, Spokane, WA, 2016
29th Avenue Art Works, Spokane, WA, 2016
Group Exhibition with Garric Simonsen and Caren Furbeyre, Spokane Public Library, 2015
Pivot, Clearstory Gallery, Spokane, WA, 2015
MAC Art Auction, Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015
4 X 4 X 4, J.M. Thamm Gallery, Spokane, WA 2010
Town and Country Art Tour, Spokane, WA 2009, 2010, 2011 (host studio)
Art in the Garden Spokane, WA, 2005 -2011 (at studio of Kay O’Rourke)
Small Works Exhibition, Art Spirit Gallery, Coeur D’Alene, ID, 2005
Spokane Valley Art Tour, Spokane Valley, WA, 2005, 2007
Ronald McDonald House Bears, Spokane, WA, 2005
Planned Parenthood Auction, 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005
POETRY
Down River, Deep Root, A Spokane Poetry Anthology, Carbonation Press, 2026
“6B Pencils” (book length manuscript), Resource Publications, 2024
“Catatopia,” Grey Dog Press, 2021
“Trial by Ordeal” (book length manuscript), Resource Publications, 2020
“Gimp Club,” Try This At Home – An Anthology Chapbook of The Diverse Voices Writing Group, 2019
“Towers & Dungeons: Lilac City Fairy Tales, Vol. 4, Scablands Press, 2018
“Spokane Writes: A Poetry & Prose Anthology,” Friends of Spokane County Library District, 2017
“WA 129,” Poems Selected by Tod Marshall, State Poet Laureate, 2016 – 2018
Spokesman Review, “I am a Town,” article and poems, 2016
“Unloved: An Encyclopedia of Ostracized Animals,” Spark Central, 2017
“I am a Town,” with Laura Read, Spokane Poet Laureate, 2016
“The Periodic Table of Poems”, Spark Central, 2016
Spokane Open Poetry, KYRS Radio with Steven Pitters, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
Website of Washington poets created by Willy Walker, 2012
Prairie Wind Winter, book poems and drawings, 1995
“Cowboys and Old Men”, Calderita, Jackson, WY, 1995
“The smell and cattle”, Caldera, Jackson, WY, 1994
“The smell and cattle”, Caldera, Jackson, WY, 1994
Owen Wister Review, University of Wyoming, c. 1981
Poetry included in art exhibitions at Fort Collins Art Museum, Whitworth University, Northwest Architecture Company and other sites.
POETRY PERFORMANCE/ READINGS
Foray for the Arts, 2025, 2026
Spark Central, Get Lit, Spokane, WA, 2020
Try This at Home – An Anthology Chapbook of The Diverse Voices Writing Group, Spark Central, 2019
WA129, Gonzaga University, 2017
Spark Central, Unloved: An Encyclopedia of Ostracized Animals, Get Lit, 2017
Spark Central, with Laura Read (Spokane Poet Laureate), I am a Town, 2016
Spark Center/Ink Art Space, The Periodic Table of Poems, Get Lit, Spokane, WA 2016
Broken Mic, Spokane, WA, 2012 – 2018
LitEDGE, Wheeler Auditorium, Port Townsend, 2015
Broken Mic, Spokane, WA, 2012 – 2015
Dick Case Memorial Reading, Spokane, WA, 2011
Website of Washington poets created by Willy Walker, 2012, www.unspokennw.com
Zone 4 Reading Series, Spokane, WA, 2010
Stephen Pitter’s Radio Show, KYRS, 2006 – 2013, 2015
Whitworth College, Spokane, WA, 2004
Erotica, Cabin Coffee, Spokane, WA, 2001
Artist Trust Fundraiser, Spokane, WA, 2000
Voices of Mootsy’s, Get Lit Festival, Spokane, WA, 1999
Fugazzi Bakery on Monroe, Spokane, WA, 1999
Rocket Bakery House, Spokane, WA, 1999
Mootsy’s Tavern, Spokane, WA, 1997
Word Band, Parkway Plaza Hotel, Casper, WY, 1996
Blue Heron Books and Espresso, Casper, WY, 1996
Border Book Festival Poetry Slam, Mesilla, NM, 1996, Third Place
Wyoming Art Council, Cheyenne, WY, 1995
Stone School House Gallery and Bookstore, Shell, WY, 1995
Artcore, Music and Poetry, Casper, WY, 1995
Participation in community open mic’s, 1993 to present
GRANTS AND AWARDS
Spokane Citizen Hall of Fame Award for Arts and Letters, Spokane Library Foundation, 2019
Difference Maker, Spokesman Review, Spokane, WA, 2018
Karen Mobley Arts Impact Award, Spokane, WA, 2015 (yes, this is really named after me)
YWCA Woman of Achievement in Arts and Culture, Spokane, WA, 2000
Wyoming Arts Council Literary Fellowship Program, Honorable Mention, 1995, 1996
Wyoming Arts Council Visual Arts Projects Grant for production of artist’s book, 1994
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL TRAINING
Lit Edge, Artist Trust, 2015
Non-matriculating graduate student, Creative Writing, Eastern Washington University, Spokane, 2014- 2015
Santa Fe Seminar in Museum Management, 1988
Conference participation (at AAM, CAA, AFA)
MFA in Painting, University of Oklahoma, Norman, Oklahoma, 1987
University of Wyoming London Semester, 1984, graduate courses in art history, extensive travel throughout Great Britain, France and Switzerland
BFA with Honor, University of Wyoming, 1983
Phi Beta Kappa, Phi Beta Phi
Rotary Exchange Student to Australia, 1979
ORGANIZATIONS/AWARDS/ETC
President Elect, Rotary 21, Spokane, WA present
President, Spokane Urban Nature, Spokane, WA present
Inspire Washington Board of Directors, 2019 – present
Culture PAC Board, 2019 – present
Cultural Access Washington Board of Directors, 2015 – 2019
Cultural Access Fund PAC, 2014 – present
Cultural Access Fund Steering Committee, 2012 – 2013
Northwest Museum of Arts and Culture, Board, 2009 – 2015
Japanese Cultural Center, Spokane, WA 2011- 2014
Board Member, Spokane Public Radio, 2001-2004, Building Steering Committee 2010 – 2014
Westminster United Church of Christ, Trustee, 2003 -2009, Deacon 2010 – 2016
Leadership Spokane Class of 2000
Washington State Arts Alliance, Board Member, 1999 – 2003, Vice Chair, Chair of Legislative Affairs Committee
Davenport Arts District Board Member, 1999 – 2002. Advisory Board Member 2003 – 2004.
Spokane InterPlayers Ensemble, Advisory Board, 2003 – 2004
Spokane Area Chamber of Commerce, Co-Chair, Art Committee, 1998 – 1999
Who’s Who in American Art
Rotary Club 21, Spokane, WA
Artist Trust
EMPLOYMENT
Karen Mobley Arts Consulting, Spokane, WA, 2012 – present
ArtsWA Curator, 2020 – present
Spokane Arts Contractor, Spokane, WA, 2012 – present
Spokane Art School, Instructor, 2016 – present
City of Spokane, City Arts Department, Arts Director, Spokane, WA, 1997 – 2012
Whitworth University, Adjunct Professor, Spokane, WA 2006 – 2023
Nicolaysen Art Museum and Discovery Center, Casper, WY, Director, March 1993 – June 1997
University Art Gallery, New Mexico State University, Las Cruces, NM, Director, June 1987 – March 1993
University of Oklahoma, Fred Jones Jr. Museum of Art, Norman, OK, Graduate Assistant, 1985 – 1987