Karen Trexler was lucky enough to discover her love for jewelry making early in life in a high school jewelry-making class where she was introduced to the basics of metalsmithing. She pursued her passion for making and attended Ball State University, where she received a BFA before continuing on to get her Master of Fine Arts with an emphasis in metalsmithing and enameling from the University of Wisconsin-Madison. 

After graduating with her MFA, Karen shifted her emphasis from traditional metalsmithing to working with precious metal clay, falling in love with the accessibility and diverse possibilities of projects resulting from the flexibility of the material. Karen was hired as Cool Tools’ resident artist, where she’s had the opportunity to develop projects and educate others online through the YouTube videos Cool Tools Produces. Karen also has experience teaching in person and has led workshops at the Metal Clay Artist’s Symposium in 2023 and the Sinter Conference, where she also presented in 2022. Karen has been honored to serve as a Juror of AMCAW’s Opposites and Contrasts artist challenge in 2023 and has served as an expert for consultation for AMCAW’s challenge winners since 2019. Karen is passionate about sharing creativity and empowering others as makers.