Karla WozniakView profile
Associate Professor
Karla Wozniak is an Associate Professor in the Painting and Drawing Program at California College of the Arts (CCA), where she contributes to both undergraduate and graduate fine arts education. She is based in the San Francisco Bay Area and maintains an active studio practice. Education: MFA in Painting and Printmaking, Yale University, New Haven, CT Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture, Skowhegan, ME BFA in Painting (Art History Minor), Rhode Island School of Design, Providence, RI European Honors Program, RISD, Rome, Italy Wozniak's research and artistic practice focus on the liminal space between representation and abstraction, creating synesthetic visual experiences. Her work explores landscape, memory, and symbolic forms through oil and acrylic painting, often incorporating layered compositions and vibrant color palettes. She draws from both personal and political narratives, engaging with themes of place, environment, and perception. Her recent body of work, including exhibitions like Pleasures and Days (2025), Heavy Weather (2024), and Sunshower (2024), reflects a sustained exploration of atmospheric conditions, natural forms, and emotional resonance. These works span abstract landscapes, symbolic still lifes, and gestural compositions, demonstrating a consistent evolution in technique and thematic depth. Scientific and Artistic Recognition: New York Foundation for the Arts Fellowship (2011) SECA Award Finalist, SFMOMA (2019) MacDowell Colony Fellowships (2007, 2005) Marie Walsh Sharpe Space Program (2009–10) Virginia Center for the Creative Arts Residencies (2022, 2013) UCross Foundation Residency (2012) Skowhegan and Vermont Studio Center Fellowships Karla Wozniak has curated exhibitions such as Making (It) Work (2019) at CCA and co-founded Ortega y Gasset Projects in New York. She has received grants and fellowships supporting her research and creative development. Her work is featured in major publications including the New York Times , Wall Street Journal , San Francisco Chronicle , and Huffington Post , and is held in the permanent collections of the Boston Museum of Fine Arts and the Knoxville Museum of Art. She is represented by Paul Thiebaud Gallery in San Francisco and GGLA in Los Angeles, and continues to exhibit nationally and internationally. Her studio and academic work are deeply interconnected, fostering innovation in contemporary painting and mentorship in art education.







