Karen Francis

Karen Francis is a Northwest Coast Indigenous artist who is of Gitxsan, Nisga’a and Tlingit heritage. Her mother is Gitxsan and so following traditional matrilineal culture, the mother’s bloodline line is the one which decides which hereditary line you follow so Karen is Gitxsan from Lax Gibuu (wolf clan) from the Wilp (House) of Nii Kyep. Many cultural teachings came from her late Gigi (grandmother) Rena Benson who was Simoogit (hereditary chief) and Ye’eh (grandfather) Frank Benson. Karen has been involved in public artworks such as Reconciled Futures through the Museum of Vancouver and has had art shows in various museums and galleries across Vancouver. Also has taught workshops to do with traditional art practices like button blanket making. Karen also produces commercial art through two local BC companies, Panabo and Native Northwest, and her products are sold all over the world. With a BFA in Fine Arts from Emily Carr specializing in oil painting in 1996. Karen also practices in several other mediums, such as acrylic and oil painting, printmaking, wood carving, and beading which are in private collections around the world.