STATEMENT

I create sculptures in an obsessive and intricate way focusing on the grandeur and fragility of the body, emphasizing the form being altered, torn, and repaired; using textiles because of the materiality- the intrinsic, tactile properties of fibers. I make sculptures with themes of nature, nurture, and desire. I am drawn to an action based process of creating, using my entire body to weave wire, sew threads, draw, rip, cut, and repair forms. They become symbols of care, protection, and survival. 

Historically, the act of sewing and quilting has been the responsibility of women, a job of endurance, comfort, and care. Using upcycled textiles, wire, and threads, I play with material manipulation such as sewing, ripping, knotting, and weaving; changing forms into organic shapes resembling monsters, vessels, limbs, and organs. The seams that hold them are visible, deliberate, and imperfect, with a focus on mending.

I explore the ideas of protection and rejection, mimicking the act of both destruction, desire, and repair. Thinking about hope, loss, and exploring the intersection of fragility and resilience, the sculptures encompass the duality of protection and destruction. My work holds space for sadness, hope, and renewal. 

BIO

Karin Tuck Petersen is a sculpture artist living in Austin, Texas. Her work is in numerous private collections in the United States; and has been shown in recent exhibitions in Brooklyn, NY; New York City, NY; Cross River, NY; Austin, TX; Chautauqua, NY; Bee Cave, TX; Round Rock, TX; and online. She has been featured in Art Maker Magazine, Voyage Austin, Canvas Rebel, and Wilder Roam Publication. She attended the Yellow Chair Salon ISP Residency in 2026, Willow House Summer Residency in 2025, and Chautauqua Visual Arts Residency at Chautauqua Institute in 2024. She is part of the ISP at Yellow Chair Salon lead by Michael David, and was a member of the 2025 Canopy Program/NYC Crit Club lead by Erika Ranee. She is a Studio Member of Contracommon, an Artist-run nonprofit gallery and studio space in Austin, TX. She received her BFA at Otis College of Art and Design, in Los Angeles, CA.