Karen Gilman, b.1959, lives and works in Lodi, NY. She holds a CFA from the NY Studio School, a BFA from Tufts University and a Diploma from the Boston Museum School. Starting in 1990, she opened 3 successful restaurants with her husband, Chef Dano Hutnik in the Finger Lakes Region of NY State. The exhibition of her art was an integral part of the restaurant experience. In 2025 she retired to pursue a career as a painter full time. Her work is in private collections in the United States as well as Europe.