Santa Barbara–based artist Karen Bezuidenhout was born and raised in Stellenbosch, South Africa, where her love of nature, horses, and adventure began. Her journey as a painter started in 1996 after attending a local art exhibition—an experience that led her to study under artist Pieter Vermaak in an old wine cellar studio.

In 1999, Karen moved with her family to San Francisco, later settling in sunlit Santa Barbara. There, she formed a close friendship with painter Bill Woolway, whose work deeply influenced her. A turning point came when her portfolio was featured in Robert Redford’s Sundance Catalog, bringing widespread recognition.

Karen’s art blends the earthy tones of Africa with the vibrant hues of California’s coast. Her subjects—ranging from horses and birds to landscapes, beaches, and lovers—reflect a life rich with travel, especially her biannual horseback rides through the Namib Desert and Wild Coast of South Africa. Her work evokes emotion and has been described as healing, peaceful, and soulful.

She paints primarily in acrylic and mixed media in her Santa Barbara studio, accompanied by her dogs and the music of Van Morrison. Her art is heartfelt and deeply personal: “My paintings are about love.”