Karina Pioner was born in 1982, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the age of 6 she moved to London, England, with her family, where she stayed for the next three years. At 12, her family went to live in Hamburg, Germany, and later Frankfurt, where they remained for six years.
After this she moved to Paris, France, in order to study Fine Arts at Parsons School of Design, Paris. She graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2004.
Once leaving Paris, Karina spent 3 years in Barcelona, Spain, where she continued to paint and persued her interest in Art Psychotherapy. She continued on to spend 2 years in Scotland, where she got her Msc degree at Queen Margaret University.

Academia :

2009: SFI Stockholm Vux - Svenska som andrasprak (Stockholm, Sweden)

2007-2009: Queen Margaret University (Edinburgh, Scotland) Msc Art Therapy: Distinction
(1st year placement: forensic psychiatry, 2nd year placement: services for young people) Registered: HPC (AS13744), BAAT (23550), SRBt

2006: Metáfora UB (Barcelona,Spain) Psicología y Arte (Psychology and Art)

2005: Metáfora UB (Spain) Fundamentos de arte terapia (Principles of Art Therapy)

2004: Ceramics course (Paris, France): Raku and Pit-firing 2000-

2004: Parsons School of Design, (Paris, France) Fine Arts (BFA)

1997-2000: Frankfurt International School (Oberusel, Germany) International Baccalaureate; Fine Arts, English, Business

Work Experience:

2009: Red Cross Sweden (working with young refugees)

2007: Parsons Paris student ambassador (recruitment in South America)

2006: Collage School Barcelona (teaching children and adults English trough art)

2003 - 2004: Working with Gregory Ryan (an established sculptor)

2002: Student Services, Parsons Paris (Student Counselling)

2002 - 2003: Gallery curator assistant, Parsons Gallery Paris

2002: Life Drawing coordinator, Parsons Paris (organising events)  

Solo Exhibitions:

2005: “In that little drawer of mine” Base Elements Gallery (Barcelona, Spain)
2005: “Just a word on Barcelona" Base Elements Gallery (Barcelona, Spain)
2004: “Closet Monologues” Parsons Gallery (Paris, France)

Selected Group Exhibitions:

2009: “Herbstsalon” Galerie Artlantis (Bad Homburg, Germany)
2009: “Popping bubble wrap” Out of the Blue Gallery (Edinburgh, Scotland)
2008: Permanent collection at Arte Vistas Gallery (Barcelona, Spain)
2007: “Inanimate” TRS Gallery (Barcelona, Spain)
2007: “Showcase” Gracia arts Gallery (Barcelona, Spain)
2006:”Caged” Base Elements Gallery (Barcelona, Spain)
2006: “Miradas” Ateliers Mommen (Brussels, Belgium)
2006: "Identity/Kimlik” Cekirdek Art Atelier (Istanbul, Turkey)
2004: “Six façons de s’exprime” Galerie Beckel-Odille-Boïcos (Paris, France)
2004: “Esmeralda” Esmeralda (Paris, France)
2003: “Junior group show” Parsons Gallery (Paris, France)

Awards:
• 2000: Fine art award, Frankfurt International School (Germany)
• 2001-2004: Financial Aid award Parsons School of Design, (France)
• 2001-2004: Work-study Award Parsons School of Design, (France)

Languages:
• Portuguese: mother-tongue
• English: fluent in speech/writing
• French: fluent in speech
• German: fluent in speech
• Spanish: fluent in speech
• Swedish: intermediate (SFI D)