About

Karin Stanley is an Irish born artist and garden designer.  A passionate observer of the changing landscape in Ireland and Scotland, Karin spends time there annually drawing her inspiration from the language of the land, the light, the stone, the air. Along with her interest in Celtic archaeology, Megalithic art, the influence of the Arts and Crafts Period and also the incredible wide range of history of Irish and Scottish Gardens.  These are the influences and precedents for work in her garden sculpture and garden design and poetry.

Ms Stanley has lived in the United States for over thirty years. Originally a knitwear designer interested in textures, fibers, patterns and symbolism – Art wear in knit form. Over the years her work has evolved from knitwear to costume in theatre  film and video. She shifted her interest to garden design and history.  Always working in a three dimensional world started creating her sculpture in 1995 Karin went back to study Landscape design and history and graduated  from the Landscape design program at Radcliffe college in 2000.

Concurrently working on her sculpture since 1995.  Ms. Stanley has given lectures at the New England Flower show and the Philadelphia Flower show, the Arnold Arboretum and various clubs on the Irish and Scottish Gardens. On occasion she organizes a tour to both of these countries, the Arnold Arboretum for Harvard University and various private groups.

Karin is looking forward to her 2019 garden tours to Ireland in the spring and the both Ireland and Scotland in June see Garden Tours

Recent commissions included an installation in Perth Australia last march,  a series of installations in Virginia . The Celtic Goddess of the seasons, created in Limestone and granite which was dedicated the Lower multi-faith Chapel At Wellesley College,MA. In June  the installation of new six foot Celtic Stela ‘Swirling Life’ in a Washington DC residence. A commemorative ten foot sculpture ‘Stela – Nurture’ at the front of the new Carroll School campus in Lincoln, where she also designed the garden.  The Celtic Sundial at the Massachusetts Horticultural society and the triple sprial path art installation also at MHS including commissions for Virginia, New York and Perth Australia. Karin has been in a number of shows including one of the Artists juried into the prestigious national sculpture shows at ‘The Mount’ 2024 out in Lenox MA home of Edith Wharton. Cape Cod Museum, The Stewart Clifford Gallery in Provincetown. Her work was selected for the new permanent sculpture walk in Salem MA and for the New sculpture park in Winchester ma where her work can be seen until 2027.

Karin is on the Council of the Massachusetts Horticultural society and NESA, the New England Sculptor Society anad a member of the National Academy of Women’s Artist.