When Karen Portaleo got the urge for coffee and a piece of cake, as she was passing the bakery shop belonging to her friend in October 2005, she could have had no real idea of jut where that fateful decision would take her.
Whilst in the shop, she noticed that there little in the way of decorative items on sale, and having decorated some biscuits in the past, asked her friend if she could do some for the shop. She had some experience in clay sculpting, and it did not take long for her to transfer her artistic leanings toward creating bespoke cakes for customers, learning all the while more about the craft and honing her already formidable skills.
She now heads the team at the ‘Highland’ Bakery in Atlanta, Georgia, USA, and takes great pride in producing what are, essentially works of art for her clients, though Karen insists that they should be eaten at once. Her amazing creations have gained international recognition over the intervening years, so much so that she counts major celebrities among her satisfied clientele, such as the megastar Elton John.
When asked to comment about her work Karen modestly said. “My background is in clay sculpture, but these days cake has taken over! I am self taught and always learning. When a client comes in I try and get a feel for their event and what they want – normally they are trying to tell a story about themselves. I try not to take much longer than two days because the cake has to be tasty and fresh. If it’s a really complex cake then we will work through the night to keep it moist”.
Her creations can sell for enormous prices, the most expensive being the replicated ‘Louis Vuitton trunk that sold for a fantastic $6,300. This unbelievable creation was fed to 200 people at a 40th birthday party, and was so realistic that, before it was cut guests asked why luggage had been left on the table..
The incredible Octopus cake weighed in at massive 187lbs, was created for a charity event and donated to an aquarium, where it was eaten, of course. In another fabulous creation, for her 30th birthday, a woman asked that her cake resemble the bag she was going to receive as her big gift with her favorite pooch inside.
There appears to be no limit to the talents of Karen Portaleo, nor does she appear to get fazed by any request, be it academic, naturalistic or simply quirky. If it can be done as a cake then Karen will do it, and the enormous scope of her artistry is certainly evident in the variety of subjects portrayed in this article.
There is something extra-special about such edible art, perhaps the pure transience of it, and the fact that it can be recorded only pictorially, because the materials of its construction are perishable. This ephemeral quality adds somehow to the overall piquancy of these temporary sculptures. Beautiful to look wonderingly at, glorious to taste and genuine treasures to remember. An unforgettable and unique ar tform that, with luck will be available to admire, in all the wondrous ways it could be created, for many more years to come.
