About
Sia Karamalegos is a visual artist working primarily in watercolor and charcoal. Her practice is grounded in observation — whether painting en plein air or drawing the human figure from life. With a loose, expressive style, she explores the transient beauty of light, landscape, and the human form. Working from both life and her own travel photography, she aims to capture the quiet resonance of a moment and invite viewers to see the familiar with new attention. She is currently based in Durham, North Carolina.
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Artist Statement
My work begins with observation. Whether I'm painting a sweeping landscape, the curve of a flower petal, or the expressive line of a human figure, I'm drawn to the interplay of light, shadow, and color in the natural world. Art heightens how I move through life. It teaches me to notice more deeply and to reflect on beauty in all its fleeting, imperfect forms.
I work primarily in watercolor and charcoal, mediums that reward attentiveness and spontaneity. Watercolor's fluid unpredictability is both a challenge and a creative partner, especially in plein air or urban sketching where the environment shapes the process. Charcoal and pastel, on the other hand, offer a visceral connection. They put you physically in touch with the work. When I draw the human figure, it's not just observation; it's embodiment.
Many of my pieces are created from life, outdoors or in the studio, where I can absorb the full sensory context of a moment. But I also draw and paint from my own photographs — souvenirs of time spent exploring landscapes both familiar and far from home.
Ultimately, I hope my work invites viewers to pause — to find a moment of stillness, or to see something familiar with fresh eyes. I'm less concerned with fitting into a particular narrative of the art world, and more interested in tuning into the quiet resonance of a scene, and sharing that presence with others.
Exhibitions
- 2025, Durham Art Guild Member Showcase, Durham Arts Council, Durham, NC, USA (group exhibition)
- 2025, Art Is For Everyone: Animalia, Hillsborough Arts Council Gallery, Hillsborough, NC, USA (group exhibition)
- 2025, Figured Out, The CoLab, Raleigh, NC, USA (group exhibition)
- 2024, O.S.D., Durham, NC, USA (solo exhibition)
- 2024, Our House, Allenton & Semans Galleries, Durham Arts Council, Durham, NC, USA (group exhibition)
- 2024, Paint It Orange Plein Air Paint-out & Wet Paint Sale, Eno Mill Gallery, Hillsborough, NC, USA (juried show)
Newsletter
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