Karen Monster is a self-taught artist/musician/singer-songwriter and photographer. She has written and illustrated a children's book and at present has several writings underway. She is also creator of Stationery Orbit a small stationery and graphic design company.

Karen has served as muse for many, notably, the World's Number One Crime Novelist, Elmore Leonard. Karen's persona was the foundation of Leonard's character "Nicky" in Get Shorty. Hints of Karen trail throughout his novels until most recently in Mr. Paradise as quoted above. Karen has also been the subject of many a song including the late Johnny Thunders'  "Society Makes Me Sad" and folk artist Danny Cox's "Desert Sun."

An award-winning artist, Karen maintains a lifelong passion for art. While a self-taught practitioner she has attended university for Art History. Her works include a variety of mixed media ranging from pastel, paint, watercolor, pencil, pen and ink, illustration, glass mosaics, gigantic marionettes, and Mons-Tee's; a line of hand-painted T-shirts and hand-sewn toys for kids.

Johnny Thunders' Portrait acrylic 3' x 4'

Celebrating another lifelong passion Karen blazed a rock and roll trail rekindling the fire known as Detroit Rock and Roll. Karen has 3 'official' releases and at least 3 times as many bootlegs exist today.

     "A sharp sense of history, intelligence, wit and lyrics as bold as
      graffiti mixed with rock and a splash of punk Karen Monster proves
      to be one of Detroit's most, uh, vivid characters. Lots of people talk
      about Motor City Rock, if anyone embodies it...it's Karen Monster"
                                                                                      Metro Times

  

Karen has provided artwork and photography for numerous album covers, rock n' roll T-shirts and posters, corporate logos and identities, as well as  business and personal correspondence cards.

Girl on Porch
Pastel

Christ
Glass Bead mosaic

Panther
Glass Bead mosaic

"Karen Monster IS Keith Richards...
   only a little better looking"                                                                                      Detroit Music Magazine

Whether it was an electrified live performance, solo acoustic show, television or radio interview Karen was certain to pack a delightful punch . . . the girl is funny. She considers herself blessed to have played with some of Rock n' Rolls greats: late New York Dolls', Johnny Thunders and Jerry Nolan. The Animals, Eric Burdon. England's Terry Reid. And fellow Detroiter's; the MC5's, Wayne Kramer and Rob Tyner. The Stooges, Ron Asheton and Guitar Hero James Gurley from Big Brother and the Holding Company.

Her bands and members include, but not limited to: Little Monsters: Stewart Simon-guitar,
Mark Elliott-bass, Grease Carlissi-bass, Dave Jack-drums. Karen Monster Band (all versions): Stewart Simon-guitar, Pasadena-guitar, Dave Hanna-guitar, Dave Wronski-guitar, Grease Carlissi-guitar and bass, Mike Marshall-bass, Matt Chapman-bass, Jimmie Bones-keyboard, Dave Jack-drums, Steve Latanation-drums. Karen Monster and the Main Veins: Dave Hanna-guitar, Steve King-bass, Dave Jack-drums. The New Barbiturates (all versions): Art Lyzak-vocals, Bootsey X-vocals, Dave Uchalik-vocals and bass, Jimmie Bones-vocals and keyboard, Pasadena-guitar, Dave Hanna-guitar, Mike Marshall-bass, Grease Carlissi-bass, Dave Jack-drums, Ron Cumbo-drums, guest guitar-Ron Asheton. The Truncheons (all versions): Paula Boufford-vocals and guitar, Monic Reynolds (tnt)-drums, Dana Forrester-bass, Raquel Salaysay-bass. Karen Monster/ James Gurley band: James Gurley (St. James)-guitar, Abe Perkins-keyboard and sax, Django Gurley-bass, Hongo Gurley-drums. Most recently Karen has worked with Pete Curry (Los Straight Jackets) and guitar genius  Dave Wronski (Slacktone).

Not just another guitar-slinging-baditude merchant, Karen also founded record labels, KEENE and Slither signing and promoting Detroit area bands. At present, Karen's musical focus is concentrated on songwriting,

For nearly a quarter century Karen has been photographing the world around her. Rarely seen without camera in hand she prefers natural things in natural light, "Nature above all else." Her photography has been published in books, magazines, newspapers as well as album covers and posters. Her photographs are the foundation for her stationery company, Stationery Orbit; a collection of handmade calendars, cards, framed prints and graphic design.

                          
  Mexican Grey Wolf and Great Blue Heron: Palm Desert 2005-06

Lenticular
Palm Springs April 1999

In Autumn 1998 Karen moved to an American desert where she currently lives in self-imposed exile. She has completed a children's book, Woody in Dreamland, Vol. 1,  emphasizing the power and importance of encouraging imagination and is working on several other books. She is also focused on songwriting and photography.

 "Woody"

. . . site will be updated soon