I recently went to visit my good friend, artist Kika Karadi at her studio in Austin, Minnesota. At the end of 2013, she moved there temporarily to be with her boyfriend (the avant-garde musician John Maus) in his hometown. Together, they found her a space in a struggling mall to use as her studio. When I heard the shopping center was being demolished, I decided to go visit her and document the remaining hours, while having some fun.
A little-known fact is that Kika’s art is featured on the poster for her friend Michel Gondry’s film, The Science of Sleep. What she's best known for are her large-scale, abstract carbon black works. While working at the mall, she created a series of what she describes as “intuitive one-shot process paintings.” Each untitled work is noted with the initials OPM, her reference for being made at the Oak Park Mall.
One could argue that Kika is the little sister to abstract painter Jeff Elrod and the granddaughter of Marfa artist Christopher Wool. Either way, she’s something special. As she tells it, the late Rene Ricard once said to her, “The most special thing about your paintings, is that you put light where it does not belong."
Here, a first preview of our photos with Kika, wearing the latest Resort arrivals from Opening Ceremony, Proenza Schouler, and Suno.![]()
Kika Karadi wears the Proenza Schouler Feather Print Crepe Chiffon Top in lavender/black and the Feather Print Pleated Skirt in lavender/black. Photos by Stephanie LaCava ![]()
Kika wears the Suno Cut-Out 3/4 Sleeve Dress in streaked ikat.
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Kika wears the Opening Ceremony Painted Leaves Denim Sweetheart Bustier in pelagic blue multi and the Opening Ceremony Painted Leaves Denim Knee Slit Trouser.
A little-known fact is that Kika’s art is featured on the poster for her friend Michel Gondry’s film, The Science of Sleep. What she's best known for are her large-scale, abstract carbon black works. While working at the mall, she created a series of what she describes as “intuitive one-shot process paintings.” Each untitled work is noted with the initials OPM, her reference for being made at the Oak Park Mall.
One could argue that Kika is the little sister to abstract painter Jeff Elrod and the granddaughter of Marfa artist Christopher Wool. Either way, she’s something special. As she tells it, the late Rene Ricard once said to her, “The most special thing about your paintings, is that you put light where it does not belong."
Here, a first preview of our photos with Kika, wearing the latest Resort arrivals from Opening Ceremony, Proenza Schouler, and Suno.
Kika Karadi wears the Proenza Schouler Feather Print Crepe Chiffon Top in lavender/black and the Feather Print Pleated Skirt in lavender/black. Photos by Stephanie LaCava 
Kika wears the Suno Cut-Out 3/4 Sleeve Dress in streaked ikat. 
Kika wears the Opening Ceremony Painted Leaves Denim Sweetheart Bustier in pelagic blue multi and the Opening Ceremony Painted Leaves Denim Knee Slit Trouser.