Karen Portaleo’s talent for designing cakes was a natural evolution of her previous careers designing sets and sculpting with clay. In the beginning of her cake designing career, Karen was a featured artist at the prestigious Ferrin Gallery in Pittsfield, Massachusetts.

Karen went from decorating cookies for her daughter’s birthday parties to a professional cake designer in 2005. Today she has designed cakes for the likes of Demi Moore, Steve Harvey, NeYo, Keyshia Cole, Xernona Clayton and Elton John. Portaleo’s cakes are repeat winners of the World’s Most Amazing Cakes and a favorite of The Real Housewives of Atlanta. Karen has been featured on the Food Network Challenge with upcoming episodes in September and October 2010.

Having no culinary background, Portaleo works only on the decorative end of the process, relying on a team of skilled pastry chefs to create the cakes that she then uses as her sculpting material. Drawing from her background in sculpture and set design, she crafts cakes that take shape to form fantastical objects and creatures with an intricacy and style that almost makes them too lifelike to eat.

Portaleo’s passion for her career is fueled by the pleasure she derives from being a part of her client’s celebrations. “My job is to provide the centerpiece for the parties and celebrations that are often some of the most special events in a person’s life! Who has a better job than that?”

Some of Karen’s most elaborate cakes include a life-sized octopus for an event benefiting the Georgia aquarium, picture perfect designer hand-bags, a tribute to Alice and Wonderland and Elton John’s beloved dog adorned with extravagant sunglasses.

Portaleo currently resides in Atlanta, Ga. with her 9-year-old daughter, Juno, and her partner Stacey. She spends her free time cooking, making art and collecting aprons.