About
Karyn Issa Ginsberg was born and raised in Montreal Quebec and received a BS in Education from the University of Vermont. After teaching in Montreal for several years, she returned to school and graduated from Lesley College with a Masters in the Expressive Therapies.
Ginsberg is grateful to have become designer Michael Kalil’s first studio assistant. She worked closely with Kalil from 1979-1983, assisting on all aspects of residential design projects. Their friendship continued until Kalil’s death in 1991.
In 1992, Marty Speigel, Jean Gardner and Ginsberg created The Michael Kalil Endowment for Smart Design. The endowment awards grants to students and architects whose work corresponds to Kalil’s principles and philosophies. For a number of years Ginsberg was on the selection committee to select recipients of the Kalil award.
Ginsberg’s career in design continued with personal residential projects. She later developed an interest in photography, and her focus as of this writing is in the synchronicity of landscape and architecture. Her work is held in a number of private collections. In addition to her photography, Ginsberg has recently developed an interest in ceramics.
Along with her involvement with the Kalil Endowment, Ginsberg is involved in several other philanthropic organizations
Related collections
Michael Kalil papersMichael Kalil oral history project