Kari was born in Peoria, Illinois in 1975. She attended California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, Califorina and graduated in 1999 with a B.F.A. in Painting. After moving to Chicago for a few years Kari returned to school. In 2002 she graduated from Central Missouri State University with an M.S. in Technology Education. Kari is currently living in Miami, Florida and attending the University of Miami. She is working on her first year towards an M.F.A. degree in Printmaking.