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| Staff Writer |
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For most artists, inspiration comes from observation. For Karen Kasper, it came in a dream. In 1984, she saw her hands forming an Arabian horse head in clay - a vision that would launch an extraordinary four-decade journey crafting some of the most sought-after equine sculptures in the world. That first piece, titled "The Amulet," would mark the beginning of a remarkable career that has redefined equine sculpture.
"This is difficult for me to answer in words, and so much easier to express in art," Kasper reflects when asked about her special connection to Arabian horses. "Beyond their visual beauty and refinement in form and movement, they inspire me as exquisite and sometimes ethereal expressions of life spirit in equine form."
That spiritual connection has translated into an impressive body of work: 139 portrait bronzes of Arabian horses, with 112 created from living models. Her sculptures now grace collections in 28 countries, including royal stables in Morocco, Jordan, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates.
Working alongside her husband, Ray Kasper, who participates in every aspect of the casting process, Karen has elevated equine sculpture to new heights. Their journey began on a central Wisconsin farm, where they raised three children while Karen painted horse portraits at night.
"Few are blessed as I am to have a partner in both life and career, to fully share the challenges and successes of creating art," she says. "We are an inseparable team, and the signature on my artwork is for both of us."
Perhaps her most significant commission came from H.E. Sheikha Al Mayassa bint Hamad Al-Thani, Chairperson of Qatar's Museums Authority, to create life-size bronzes of three World Champion Arabian stallions: Al Adeed Al Shaqab, Gazal Al Shaqab, and Marwan Al Shaqab.
"I was more than thrilled. There aren't words to describe the honour of being chosen to sculpt such important horses," Kasper reveals. The project held special significance as she had known these horses since their birth. "It was exciting to see them grow up into world champions. Like the rest of the world, I watched them become successful show horses and then major sires. But more than that, I had the privilege to know them personally, to get to study them, put my hands on them and then create their likenesses in bronze."
Her philosophy of bonding with live models in their natural environment proved invaluable in her work with Gazal, Marwan, and Al Adeed Al Shaqab. "It remains a highlight of my career to have been chosen to portray these three world champion Arabian stallions of Al Shaqab, owned by the Father Emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani," she reflects. These sculptures were all accomplished from life study, and the time spent with each of these remarkable stallions was an unforgettable experience for Kasper.
"When I began to sculpt these stallions, I felt challenged by how to portray three different individuals with a certain balance, without one more dominating than the others. But as I captured each in their own unique expression, I found it was not a challenge after all – these spirited stallions balanced naturally in art as in life. This was a great lesson to me, and I love having the opportunity to portray each new subject with full dedication to capturing their own nature and individuality."
The original clay models were created at one-fifth life-scale, then cast in bronze and unveiled in Doha in 2011 at the World Arabian Horse Organization conference. Following that event, the models were enlarged to full life-size bronze castings and installed at the entrance of the Al Shaqab stadium in Doha, marking a monumental achievement in both scale and artistic significance.
Kasper's journey began long before her first sculpture. She started drawing horses before she could read and spent her school years developing her painting skills. Summer work at a horse farm provided her first opportunity for direct life study of individual subjects, particularly mares and foals in her care.
One of her earliest and most profound artistic influences came from encountering the paintings of 18th-century artist George Stubbs. "The life-like realism of his horse portraits highly inspired me, and his words 'Nature is the greatest teacher' set me on a course of self-study from life observations that continues today," she explains. This philosophy has shaped her entire artistic journey and manifests powerfully in her work on the Al Shaqab stallions, and in all her equine art.
"While my first sculpture was done from my imagination, I immediately realised that the form and details of living horses exceeded my imagination and inspired me more in every way," she explains. "My goal became to develop my observations and artistic skill to express the 'truth' of my portrait subjects as I experienced them."
For historical subjects, she studies living descendants when possible, appreciating inherited traits that connect generations. Her commitment to studying nature firsthand has become the cornerstone of her artistic process, leading to the remarkable authenticity seen in her bronzes.
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Kasper's connection to the Middle East began in 1992 with a pivotal visit to Egypt, where she encountered Arabian horse breeders and toured the Egyptian Agricultural Organization's historical breeding programme. "I find the unique light and atmosphere in the Middle East beautifully connects us to the sense of timeless history of Arabian horses in the world, as depicted by artists in centuries past," she reflects.
Her work has become deeply intertwined with the prestigious Dubai International Arabian Horse Championships, where her sculptural artistry shapes the very symbols of excellence. Karen’s original bronze trophies have been presented to champions at this globally renowned event for several years, each piece a unique celebration of Arabian horse beauty and spirit. Among her most notable works in Dubai are two portrait bronzes of the legendary stallion Royal Colours for Dubai Stud, capturing the essence of this remarkable champion who has left an indelible mark on the breed.
In Kuwait, she recently completed portraits of "The Grand Mothers" - two treasured foundation mares for Sheikha Sarah Fahad Al Sabah: the black Mona A and her grey stable mate, Bashashah. The prominent Straight Egyptian sires Ansata Hejazi, Ajmal Talal, and Ajmal Tameen were sculpted for Mohammed Jassim Al Marzouk; and Asfour Al Waab for Barrak Al Hajeri.
While renowned for her Arabian horse sculptures, Kasper has also made her mark in the Thoroughbred world. Following her first Thoroughbred life study of Nureyev, she received commissions to sculpt leading sires, including A.P. Indy, Kingmambo, and Dixieland Band for Ambassador Will Farish. She is currently completing an unprecedented historical portrait of the legendary Man o' War.
Though each breed presents its own artistic challenges, Kasper's approach remains consistent. "As I see all my equine subjects as truly unique individuals, the same artistic challenges apply to portraying Arabians, Thoroughbreds and any subject," she explains. " All require close observation and a devotion to being truthful to what I see and experience in creating my art expressions, whether in drawing, painting or sculpture." This versatility and dedication to authenticity inform all aspects of her work.
Her art has been featured in major exhibitions at the British Museum, the International Museum of the Horse, and the Al-Marah Arabian Horse Galleries. A particular highlight was her bronze portrait of the Saudi desert-bred Arabian mare Turfa, exhibited at the British Museum's "The Horse from Arabia to Royal Ascot" exhibition in 2012. An exclusive edition of only four bronzes were cast, with the first entering the collection of Her Majesty the Queen, and the last presented to His Majesty King Abdullah Bin Abdulaziz Al Saud of Saudi Arabia.
For Sheikh Ammar bin Humaid Al Nuaimi, Crown Prince of Ajman, she has sculpted the beloved Arabian mares Bess Fa'izah and Kwestura, along with the show stallion Escape Ibn Navarrone D, further cementing her reputation as the premier sculptor of Arabian horse nobility.
"It is fascinating to recognise traits of my previous subjects in their progeny and even through successive generations," she shares. Most recently, at the 2024 Global Champions Arabians Tour finale in Riyadh, Sheikh Ammar's spectacular mare AJ Kayya was crowned "Horse of the Tour" - a moment of particular significance for Kasper, noting she has sculpted bronze portraits of 13 of this mare’s ancestors.
Today, working from their historic home and studio near Lexington, Kentucky, Karen and Ray Kasper continue to push the boundaries of equine art. For Karen, the passion that began with childhood drawings remains as strong as ever. "One must stay true to their passion, or they cannot create,” Karen believes. “Passion is the energy that compels, challenges, and rewards artistic endeavours."
"My 'eye' for subtleties of form and body language continuously developed with daily handling and observations of my own horses. Always seeing them in three dimensions, with varying natural lighting defining their anatomy, enhanced a natural understanding of form that fully applies to my artistic interpretations in any media."
Through her work, Kasper advocates for Arabian horse art to be recognised as its own genre rather than a subset of Orientalism, with installations like the Al Shaqab stallions serving as powerful contemporary statements of the breed's continuing artistic significance. As she looks to the future, Kasper remains dedicated to capturing the unique spirit of each equine subject, creating bronzes that will preserve their legacy – and hers – for generations to come.