Bio
Cara Kearns is an artist with aphantasia* who lives in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. She’s been hooked on art since the 2nd grade when she won a Frisbee in a drawing contest. After working solely in ceramics since 1993, Cara recently reinvented her artwork, teaching herself to embroider, crochet, and weave.
Cara’s award winning work has been shown in Louisiana, California, Maryland, Arkansas, Florida, and Texas. The Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge has one of her art pieces in their permanent collection.
*Aphantasia is defined by Merriam-Webster as the inability to form mental images of real or imaginary people, places, or things.
Statement
“You’re not drawing what you see, you’re drawing what you think you know.” These words were feedback from my first life-drawing instructor. They confused me for 30 years, until I found out I have aphantasia, a condition Merriam Webster defines as “the inability to form mental images of real or imaginary people, places, or things.”
The Greek translation is “without imagination,” which is why I am unable to draw what I see. In the time it takes my eye to move from subject to paper, I literally forget what it looks like. Similarly, I cannot draw something I see in my mind’s eye, because my mind’s eye can’t see. In fact, I believed phrases like “picture this…” were metaphors.
I’ve always loved art, but after years of discouraging critiques and bad grades, I began to worry I might be a bad artist. Fortunately, even without a visual imagination, I am overflowing with creativity, and I rose to the challenge. After years of exploration, I found a way of making that suits me.
Since I do not actually form a picture in my mind, I conceptualize with free association and curiosity. I make cognitive connections from personal memories, books, pop-culture, mythology, and so on. With these connections in my mind, I ask questions beginning with content, composition, and colors. Words come before pictures in my sketchbooks, informing the aesthetic of an idea.
Both fiber and clay call to me with their texture and technique. I am drawn to the softness of these materials, as well as the rich depth of color possibilities. These media are technical in their processes, allowing me to use mathematical and conceptual skills, but there is room to be intuitive and playful.
I have always been amazed by artists who could draw or sculpt instinctively. I simply have a different vocabulary of creativity, made from necessity, giving me a unique perspective. For this, I thank my superpower—aphantasia!
CV
Education
2007
Bachelor of Fine Arts, Ceramics
Louisiana State University
Baton Rouge, LA
Professional Experience
2024-present
Contemporary Fiber Artists of Louisiana
Vice President, Program Coordinator
Baton Rouge, LA
2007-present
Self-Employed
Ceramic and Fiber Artist
Ceramics: wheel-throwing, handbuilding, glaze formulation, teaching
Fiber: weaving, embroidery, crochet, teaching
2011-2012
Red Hot Center for Clay
Studio Assistant, Event Coordinator, Pottery Teacher
Exhibitions
2025
Solo Exhibition
”Misunderstood Mythological Creatures… And Other Stories”
Texarkana Regional Arts and Humanities Center, Texarkana TX
2025-2026
Group Invitational Exhibition
”The Art of Fiber”
Traveling Exhibit, Louisiana Local Libraries
2025
Juried Invitational Exhibition
“71st Annual PMA Members Show”
Pensacola Museum of Art, Pensacola, FL
2024
Group Invitational Exhibition
“Contemporary Fiber Artists of Louisiana”
FW Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2024
Juried Invitational Exhibition
“70th Annual PMA Members Show”
Pensacola Museum of Art, Pensacola, FL
2024
Group Invitational Exhibition
“Share the Love (SAQA Regional Showcase)”
Acansa Gallery, North Little Rock, AR
2023
Group Invitational Exhibition
“Color, Line, and Shape”
Hammond Regional Arts Center, Hammond, LA
2023
Group Invitational Exhibition
“The Art of Fiber”
Livingston Parish Arts Council, Denham Springs, LA
2023
Annual Juried Invitational Exhibition
“Once Upon A Time”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2023-2024
Group Invitational Exhibition
“Guardians, Harbingers, and Sentinals”
Traveling Exhibit, Louisiana Local Libraries
2023
Annual Juried Group Exhibition
“Surreal Salon 15”
Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2022
Group Invitational Exhibition
“The Art of Creative Fiber”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2022
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“BLOOM!”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2022
Juried Group Exhibition
“Strange Paradise: A Window Into Surrealism”
Annmarie Sculpture Gardens and Arts Center, Solomons, MD
2022
Annual Juried Group Exhibition
“Surreal Salon 14”
Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2021
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“Members Only”
Cary Saurage Exhibition Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2021
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“Bootleggers and the Bee’s Knees”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2020-1
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“Years That Ask Questions: Southern Writers”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2020
Two-Person Exhibition
“Cara Kearns and Willis Wilburn”
FW Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2020
Juried Group Exhibition
“All Creatures Great and Small”
Healdsburg Center for the Arts, Healdsburg, CA
2020
Annual Juried Group Exhibition
“Surreal Salon 12”
Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2019
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“Luna 18”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2019
Juried Group Exhibition
“Stabbed in the Art: Love/Anti-Love”
ACGBR Firehouse Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2018
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“Summer of Love”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2017
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“Off To See the Wizard”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2016
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“How High’s the Water, Mama?”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2015
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“Into the Mystic”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2013
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“reWORK!”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2012
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“Dream Catching”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2011
Invitational Group Exhibition
ACGBR Firehouse Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2011
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“Decadence”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2010
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“Space 2010”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2009
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“American Dreams”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2008
Annual Group Invitational Exhibition
“Hot Tamales”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2007
BFA Group Exhibition
Foster Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
Awards
2024
Honorable Mention
“70th Annual PMA Members Show”
Pensacola Museum of Art, Pensacola, FL
2023
Second Place
“Surreal Salon 15”
Baton Rouge Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2022
Honorable Mention
“Strange Paradise: A Window Into Surrealism”
Annmarie Sculpture Garden and Arts Center, Solomons, MD
2021
People’s Choice 3000 (Honorable Mention)
“Years That Ask Questions: Southern Writers”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2019
Best Evidence of Things Not Seen (Honorable Mention)
“Luna 18”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
2018
Crunchy Granola Patchouli Moon Dance Reliquary of Earthy Goodness (Honorable Mention)
“Summer of Love”
Glassell Gallery, Baton Rouge, LA
Presentations
2025
“Delightful Detours and Radical Roadblocks: The Advantages of Going Off the Path”
A visual artist who can’t visualize explores her journey.
January 16 BREC Womack Park, Baton Rouge, LA
June 11 The Arts Hancock County, Bay St. Louis, MS
Publications
2022
“The Art of Creative Fiber” catalog, LSU School of Art, p. 19
2022
“Artist’s Perspective” feature, 225 Magazine, June edition, p. 86