Karola Ritter, of German origin, is a multi-media visual artist, painter, photographer, videographer and documentary filmmaker. Her childhood was spent in Switzerland and France surrounded by a family of painters, actors and musicians. She obtained a Masters degree in philosophy at the Sorbonne, and a DEA in Cinematography under filmmakers Eric Rohmer and Jean Rouch. Her first film, Colorado, won her a post-gaduate fellowship from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs that brought her to MIT. Later, she traveled around the world with renowned cinéma verité filmmakers, the Maysles Brothers.

Her paintings, photos and video installations have been shown at the "Figuration Critique" in San Francisco, at the Grand Palais in Paris, France, at the Kunstkredit in Basel, Switzerland, 678 Broadway Gallery in New York City and in galleries and museums in Long Island's the Hamptons, where she settled with her son in 1995.

Karola's films have been screened at the CNC (Centre National de Cinema) and the Cinematheque in Paris, the Kitchen in New York City, at Guild Hall in East Hampton, and during the Hamptons International Film Festival. In the past 7 years, Karola has produced over 300 local television shows; she also did principal photography on the documentary, "Farmingville," which just won the special documentary jury prize at the 2004 Sundance Film Festival.

Karola's work is dedicated to the search for a more sensitive and humane spiritual ethic beyond the dichotomous linear, patriarchal world-views and philosophies of western civilization, which have led to the destruction of our environment and eradication of other cultures. Many of her documentaries are dedicated to environmental and minority issues, predominantly documenting Native American struggles.

Karola's artwork over the past ten years is a reflection of this endeavor. Her video installation "Digital Swamp" for "Energia" at the National Museum for Contemporary Art, XTAA,in Mexico City was a homage to the life-giving element of water, which she captured with her camera utilizing the moving abstractions created by the interplay of wind, sun and seasons. These unaltered moving images (and nature sounds) were the central piece of this installation. A Sioux Nation member has commented, "Karola truly captures the spirit and the essence of these elements in her work."