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Hold Fast to Dreams

Hold Fast to Dreams

Kari Bell Art

$650 USD
$650 USD
Archival Release Acquired
Shipping calculated at checkout.

Shipping & Studio Lead Times

STUDIO LEAD TIME: 2–7 business days.

Each work is professionally packed and insured for transit.

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Stripe Climate Badge
A portion of this acquisition is dedicated to scaling next-generation carbon removal technology via Stripe Climate;
Mitsooz absorbs this commitment in full to ensure a legacy of preservation for the landscapes that inspire our creators.

Technical Specifications.

Medium: Oil on Canvas

Dimensions: 16" x 12" (Drawing) | 20" x 16" (Finished Matted Size)

Classification: Unique Work (One-of-a-kind)

Year: 2026

Provenance: Artist Direct / Mitsooz Vetted

Return Status: 7-Day Reflection

The Narrative.

Hold Fast to Dreams
An Original Oil and Cold Wax Painting on Paper

The Architecture of Aspiration.
True abstraction is a sanctuary for the things we dare to imagine. In Hold Fast to Dreams, Kari Bell investigates the vibrant tension between the tangible world and the ephemeral nature of hope. The composition is built through an energetic layering of aqua, mint, and deep indigo: colors that evoke the cooling shadows of a high-desert oasis. This Work is designed with a rare structural equilibrium, offering the collector a Multi-Directional Display. While shown in this orientation, the piece remains evocative and balanced when rotated: allowing it to adapt specifically to the unique light and architecture of your home.

Technical Mastery and the Found Image.
Drawing from her background as a university professor and department chair, Bell’s practice is defined by a rigorous intellectual depth. In Hold Fast to Dreams, she moves beyond the structured language of the academy to a practice of unearthing the image within the material. Utilizing a rich combination of oil pigment and cold wax on paper, she uses specialized tools to build, scratch, and scrape the surface: revealing a visual record of the painting’s evolution. This 16x12 masterpiece is professionally matted to a 20x16 finished size, creating an archival bridge between the intellectual depth of a scholar and the intuitive soul of a master painter.

Details & Dimensions:

  • Title: Hold Fast to Dreams
  • Classification: Original Fine Art (Unique Work)
  • Medium: Oil and Cold Wax on Fine Art Paper
  • Art Movement: Contemporary Abstraction
  • Art Style: Multi-Directional Abstract / Tactile Expressionism
  • Theme: Aspiration, Southwest Atmosphere, Discovery
  • Orientation: Vertical (Featuring Multi-Directional Display)
  • Construction: Solid / Hand-Painted
  • Presentation: Includes Professional Matting
  • Dimensions: 16" x 12" (Drawing) | 20" x 16" (Finished Matted Size)
  • Weight: 1 lb
  • Year Created: 2026
  • Origin: Created in Rio Rancho, New Mexico, United States
  • Authenticity: Includes a Certificate of Authenticity (COA)
  • Investment: $650.00
  • Availability: Ready to Ship
  • Reflection Period: 7-Day Reflection Period

Bring a luminous reminder of resilience into your space. Acquire the "Hold Fast to Dreams" original oil and cold wax painting for your collection today at Mitsooz.

About the Artist.

Kari Bell Art

Kari Bell Art

Kari Bell is a contemporary abstract painter informed by a long background in sociolinguistics and international culture. She holds a PhD in Spanish from the Université de Toulouse, France, an MA from Kutztown University of Pennsylvania, and a BA in Sociology from the University of Kentucky. She is a former Fulbright Scholar in Brazil.

Her academic career spanned over 30 years in higher education, including service as a department chair of Modern Language Studies before transitioning fully into studio practice.

In the New Mexico art community, she is the creative founder of Cerulean, an Albuquerque-based art caucus, and a co-founder of the Taos Abstract Artist Collective, where she served as the creative impetus for its formation. She initiated the concept, led early organizing efforts, invited the first participating artists, and helped establish the group during its formation stage.

Her work has received multiple Awards of Excellence from the Rio Grande Art Association and is held in permanent collections including the Museum of Encaustic Art and the Bernalillo Public Art Collection.

Stripe Climate Badge
A portion of this acquisition is dedicated to scaling next-generation carbon removal technology via Stripe Climate; Mitsooz absorbs this commitment in full to ensure a legacy of preservation for the landscapes that inspire our creators.

The Mitsooz Commitment.

Studio-Direct Dispatch

Mitsooz facilitates an unmediated connection between the artist and the collector. Every work is dispatched directly from the artist’s studio or primary production workspace; fully insured from their door to yours.

Curated Provenance

The Collective is a strictly curated environment; every artist is vetted for technical mastery and narrative depth. Each work includes a physical, signed Certificate of Authenticity to ensure its origin and legacy.

Collector Reflection

We offer a 7-day reflection period for eligible works. Collectors may choose a 100% refund via the Mitsooz Collector Reserve or a cash refund minus a 25% restocking fee.

Note: Dimensional, commissioned, and bespoke works are considered final acquisitions.