Karen Blessen is an artist and writer who has engaged in purpose-driven art for decades. In 1989, she was the first graphic artist to win a Pulitzer Prize for art done for a Dallas Morning News special section, "Anatomy of an Air Crash."
At the DMN, she specialized in award-winning complex stories that combined her art and writing. "Faces of a Plaque" (2002) reported on her travels in Africa with Save the Children, documenting the stories of those living with HIV/Aids.
"ONE BULLET" (2003) was a three-year project that followed the spiraling impact of a murder in front of her home. Her free-lance clients include the Times Square Alliance, Lincoln Center, American Red Cross, and many others.
Her illustrated books include Be An Angel (1995) and Peace One Day (2005).
Karen co-founded and serves as the Executive Artistic Director of 29 Pieces developed an arts-based curriculum, Artisits Making a Kinder World.
Since 2005, more than 1,500 teachers have been trained to deliver AMAKW lessons to more than 250,000 students in 24 states and Washington DC. 29 Pieces also does public art sculptures and exhibits. The University of Nebraska acquired her artist journals for their archives.
