Karni-Bain (BAI), Carl, (Ms. Swan)

“Ms. Swan” by Carl Karni-Bain (BAI)

10 x 11″ acrylic and oil stick on poster board –unframed

Carl Karni-Bain aka BAI was born in Virginia in 1959.  He attended California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, CA., majoring in classical drawing and painting.

Over the last three decades BAI’s work has dealt with the human form.  He has consistently used the African Mask as the foundation of his portraits.  The mask, much like the human face, takes the artist as well as the viewer on a never-ending journey of twist and turns, ups and downs.  He uses color to capture the emotional state of his subject:  The reds and dark oranges generally symbolize the turmoil and suffering the subject has endured; blues and greens represent the calm and peacefulness, and the bright yellow indicate a bright future ahead.  Like life, his portraits are not always predictable, however.

BAI has exhibited throughout the United States and Internationally.  His work forms part of the permanent collection of the University of North Carolina, Charlotte, and the Harrison Museum of African America Culture.  His works can be found in private and domestic collections as well as internationally in Australia, Spain, England, Italy, China, France, Canada, Sweden, Holland, Ireland, and Germany.  He has exhibited extensively in, the San Francisco Bay area, North Carolina, New York, China, and Europe.