A lover, and a hater, artist Keren Hoch reverberates with intense emotions and an unwavering commitment to brutal honesty. A resident of Benevolent Living for 36 years, if Keren were to be described as “part of the furniture”, it would have to be an extremely idiosyncratic and fondly held fixture! 

An iconic figure, not only physically but in all life dimensions, Keren’s signature style, distinctive voice and hallmark turn of phrase are undoubtedly unique, but it is through her art that Keren’s unadulterated self finds its truest, and greatest expression. 

Keren is an artist in a very literal and organic sense. While not formally trained, Keren’s commitment to her practice has been a constant force and her distinguishing, naïve style* represents an unaffected and raw embodiment of emotion and experience. 

The forceful passions that compel and often consume Keren, are possibly best understood through the prism of her “artist personality”. Impulsive and inspired; creative and chaotic; sensitive and single-minded, Keren is driven and defined by her art and more particularly by her fundamental need to paint. 

A funnel for her primary fixations, Keren’s eternal questions around the nature of life and truth; crime and punishment; sin and suffering; trauma and self-identity are both explored and exorcised through her art. 

Pies, meat-lovers pizza, beef stew and smoked salmon - perhaps akin to Australian artist, Norman Lindsay, Keren also believes “that infantile concepts of happiness are based on the belly” but food and other visceral pleasures are a source of recurrent fascination. 

Keren’s art is a manifestation of her unique life experiences, and it is her dedication, rawness of intent, humility and innate humour that make her repertoire remarkable and yes Keren, this means you are indeed, exceptional. 

Have a happy joyous day! 

*Naïve art is usually defined as visual art that is created by a person who lacks formal education or training that a professional artist undergoes. Naïve art can be characterised by the fluid creativity found within works of the movement and the artists uninhibited and instinctive approach to materials, composition and ideas.