Title: Professor of Art (Retired)
Company: Fashion Institute of Technology
Location: New York, New York, United States
Karen F. Santry, BS, MFA, retired professor of art at the Fashion Institute of Technology, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Artists for dedication, achievements, and leadership in painting.
Ms. Santry established herself as an esteemed artist and educator for more than 40 years. She retired from the Fashion Institute of Technology in 2020, where she had served as a professor of art since 1980, teaching at all levels, from sophomores to graduate students. Additionally, Ms. Santry opened Santry Studios in 1974 as a place to create her own artwork and co-founded Fashion Art Bank, a fashion illustration licensing company, in 1999. She partnered with one of her students to develop High Tech Ties, a company where she designed bow ties using high-tech materials. Ms. Santry’s early career includes instructor roles at Silvermine Guild of Artists and Yale University and scenery painting at Atlas Scenic Studios. Her art has been exhibited at the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History and the Jacob K. Javits Convention Center, and notably sold at the Allan Stone Gallery.
Before pursuing her art career, Ms. Santry built a strong academic foundation. She obtained a bachelor’s degree from Skidmore College in 1970. Ms. Santry subsequently earned a Master of Fine Arts from the University of Pennsylvania in 1974. Beginning in 1990, she resided in Westbeth Artists Housing and Center for the Arts, one of the world’s largest artist communities, allowing her to share and learn from fellow creative minds. Ms. Santry has also bolstered her credentials through active membership in the Society of Illustrators. She was previously a member of the Graphic Artists Guild.
Beyond her primary vocation, Ms. Santry has fostered a reputation for contributing to the community. She volunteers her skills to Penny Jones & Co. Puppets at the Early Childhood Puppet Theatre. A lifelong advocate for animals, Ms. Santry serves on Westbeth Artists Housing’s Committee for Endangered Species, as well as the NYC Artist Safe Haven Residency Program’s Advisement Committee. She was honored with a plaque by the Arts Council of Norwalk in 1984 in recognition of her part in popularizing the industrial lofts of South Norwalk, Connecticut, as a major opportunity space for artists. Ms. Santry was notably one of the first people to nickname the neighborhood “SoNo” and collaborated with the city’s mayor to plan art shows, parades and the concept that later became the Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.
Ms. Santry attributes the success she has found to her parents, who exposed her to art at a young age with trips to the Rijksmuseum in Amsterdam. Her journey was also aided by mentorship from such acclaimed artists and teachers as Jack Potter, Robert Reed, Elaine de Kooning, Alex Katz and Neil Welliver. Ms. Santry’s creative drive has been fueled by proximity to other artists, even across mediums. Her earliest works included painting rock stars like Mick Jagger and David Bowie, who she briefly accompanied on a tour.
Though officially retired, Ms. Santry remains active in many endeavors. She plans to focus on painting and writing in the future, including publishing her first book, “Making Up SoNo.” Ms. Santry hopes to achieve wider exhibition of her works in the future, with ambitions of being featured at the Whitney Biennial and museums around the world. She also intends to start another art design company with the same former student she partnered with for High Tech Ties. Whether as a teacher, an entrepreneur, or an artist, Ms. Santry has made an indelible impact on the world and will surely continue to do so.
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