Emily Klima is a visual artist based in New York City and earned her BFA from Boston University College of Fine Art. Ms. Klima’s early career in graphic design began as a designer and then art director for Condé Nast Publications and Hearst Corporation.

Several years ago, Ms. Klima rediscovered her love of painting and felt a strong need to defy what she had been taught about art making. From that perspective, she began to explore the inherent raw power of abstract painting and how it evokes a freedom to be fully present. Ms. Klima’s creative process comes from feeling inspired by life experiences. “There is so much personal growth that occurs in my work.” “Who I am at any given time is what shows up on my canvas—I am a creative vessel that thrives on emotion and change.”

Painting in the studio or showing her work, organically brings out the best expression of herself. Ms. Klima’s work is alive with flurries of brilliant color and an energy created by drips and splatters, mixed media collage elements and text. Added layers of resin and the use of oil sticks give her paintings a glossy or velvety finish. Ms. Klima exploits her formal training in drawing and painting to break free of its strictures. In all of her work, there is a consistent exploration of tension between order and chaos—discipline and freedom. Every painting contains within it her process of moving from control to letting go of control, and back again.

Ms. Klima’s prevailing work of abstract, mixed media paintings are her continuous creative expression of current events, both internal and external—in many ways disrupted, yet also incredibly elevated.