Westport Book Shop Welcomes Local Artist Karen Schlansky for April Art Exhibit

The Westport Book Shop is pleased to welcome local artist Karen Schlansky as guest exhibitor for the month of April at the Book Shop's Drew Friedman Art Place. Karen is exhibiting a selection of paintings from her recent “Books” series.

Karen is an abstract painter working in acrylic, oil, pastel, and mixed media.  She describes her process as intuitive and driven by mark-making, layering, and a willingness to stay open to where the painting wants to go. She says she doesn't usually begin with a fixed plan. Instead, she builds each piece through movement, texture, and color, allowing structure and freedom to find their balance over time. Although her Books series required structure, she says she kept the palette whimsical, allowing her freedom.

Karen Schlansky attended The Arts Students League in New York, and received a bachelor's degree from Skidmore College.  She also received a Fine Arts Appraisal Certification from New York University, which expanded her understanding of art from both an aesthetic and professional perspective.  For 20 years, she ran Rose Court Asian Antiques, sourcing and selling artwork internationally, before committing fully to painting. 

Karen’s artwork has been exhibited in juried and group shows, and is held in private collections.  She is a member of the Westport Artists Collective, Connecticut Women Artists Association, the Ridgefield Artist Guild, and the Carriage Barn Art Center. Her art studio is located in Norwalk CT.

To see more of Karen's artwork, visit her website at karenschlansky.com

The Westport Book Shop will hold a reception for Karen and this exhibit on Wednesday evening, April 29, 2026, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  Space is limited; please RSVP to the Book Shop by phoning 203-349-5141 or sending an email to RSVP@westportbooksaleventures.org

Karen Schlansky’s artwork will be on exhibit at the Westport Book Shop through April 30, 2026.  All artwork on display is available for purchase.

The art exhibit is open to the public during the Book Shop’s regular business hours: Mondays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Sundays from Noon to 5 p.m.

Westport Book Shop, a nonprofit independent used bookstore, is downtown Westport's only source for gently used and antiquarian books, vintage vinyl records, CDs and DVDs. It is located at 23 Jesup Road, right across Jesup Green from The Westport Library.

The Book Shop's "Drew Friedman Art Place" is a dedicated gallery space within the store that features the work of community artists on a rotating basis. The exhibits, which change monthly, are curated b Miggs Burroughs, a Trustee of the Drew Friedman Community Arts Center, and a founding member of The Artists Collective of Westport.