Off the Wall

Off the Wall

Sarah Ahmad, Jaali: "Only from the heart can you touch the sky." (Rumi), 2002.. Images: Sarah Ahmad, Jaali: "Only from the heart can you touch the sky." (Rumi), 2002. Photo by Ann Sherman.. Photo by Ann Sherman.

Overview

Off the Wall

February 17 - June 20, 2022

Mary LeFlore Clements Oklahoma Gallery

Admission is always free; tickets are not required

Off the Wall featured three Oklahoma-based artists — Sarah Ahmad, romy owens and Marium Rana — who created large-scale works that came in stunning and unexpected forms. These artists worked in fiber, textiles and mixed media, using techniques that ranged from sewing and quilting to the intricate application of paint and the exploration of cutting-edge technology.

A detail photo of an installation featuring strands of string in varying shades of green and blue attached to hooks and stretched across a corner of a gallery

romy owens, Nothing Can Be Perfect (detail), 2022.

Ahmad, owens and Rana created immersive and interactive installations to transform the Mary Leflore Clements Oklahoma Gallery. Rather than being confined to the walls, their artwork extended into the air and explored the physical, vertical volume of the gallery. Off the Wall invited visitors to experience the gallery in a radically different way than a traditional white cube.

Ahmad, owens and Rana interpreted universal human experiences through three distinct artistic styles. Each work could be viewed as individual constellations on themes as varied as tradition, chaos and travel. Placing all three works in conversation with each other encouraged viewers to reflect on the interconnectedness of humanity. The interactive component of each work highlighted how individual perception can transform universal ideas into constantly evolving experiences.

Artist Talk

Watch the Off the Wall Artist Talk here

This exhibition was supported by Ad Astra Foundation, Annie Bohanon, The Chickasaw Nation, Cox, Leslie and Cliff Hudson, The Kanady Family, George Records, Jeanne Hoffman Smith, Glenna and Richard Tanenbaum and Velocigo

Selected Artworks

OffTheWall
Marium Rana, Awaiting Arrival, 2022..
OffTheWall
Sarah Ahmad, Jaali: "Only from the heart can you touch the sky." (Rumi), 2002..

Images

  • Sarah Ahmad, Jaali: "Only from the heart can you touch the sky." (Rumi), 2002.. Images: Sarah Ahmad, Jaali: "Only from the heart can you touch the sky." (Rumi), 2002. Photo by Ann Sherman.. Photo by Ann Sherman.
  • Marium Rana, Awaiting Arrival, 2022.. Marium Rana, Awaiting Arrival, 2022. Photo by Ann Sherman.. Photo by Ann Sherman.

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