ST. LOUIS, MO.- This February, Laumeier Sculpture Park will present Karyn Olivier – A Closer Look. Opening February 9, 2007 and continuing through May 13, 2007, Karyn Olivier’s spare and witty work will span the indoor galleries of Laumeier’s Museum Building .

Born in Trinidad and Tobago , Olivier received her M.F.A. at Cranbrook Academy of Art and her B.A in psychology at Dartmouth College. She has held the position of Professor of Sculpture at the University of Houston and just completed an Artist in Residence at the Studio Museum in Harlem . Her work has recently been exhibited at The Wanas Foundation ( Sweden ), The Mattress Factory ( Pittsburgh ), The Studio Museum in Harlem and the Whitney Museum of Art at Altria. In 2005, Olivier participated in exhibitions at the Studio Museum in Harlem, the Contemporary Arts Museum , Houston , and was included in “Greater New York 2005” at P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center . Additionally, she has received grants from both Creative Capital and the New York Public Art Fund.

According to art critic/curator Gregory Volk “…Karyn Olivier is an excellent object maker, but what’s more impressive is how her objects have a peculiar ability to tap into levels of the psyche where the abiding mysteries are…”

Olivier’s exhibition at Laumeier will feature numerous works that build on familiar objects from childhood and domestic life. “The title of the exhibition, Karyn Olivier – A Closer Look, refers both to the role of the museum examining a recent body of work by the artist as well as to the way Olivier uses and scrutinizes pedestrian objects in her artistic practice,” said Laumeier Director of Installations and Collections Management Kim Humphries.

Karyn Olivier - A Closer Look runs from February 9 – May 13, 2007 in Laumeier’s indoor galleries. The exhibition opens Friday, February 9, 2007 with a reception at Laumeier Sculpture Park from 5-7 p.m.