ArtNow 2021
Hoesy Corona, Climate Poncho. Hoesy Corona, Climate Poncho, 2020. Hand-cut vinyl on vinyl, plastic rope and metal rod, 54 x 48 in. © Hoesy Corona. Photo courtesy the artist.. Photo courtesy the artist.
Overview
ArtNow 2021
July 30 - September 13, 2021Eleanor Kirkpatrick Main Gallery
Admission is always free; tickets are not required
Organized by Guest Curator Helen Opper, ArtNow 2021 presented a dynamic group of Oklahoma-based artists whose works respond to the complexities of contemporary culture, reflecting the vibrant diversity of contemporary art in Oklahoma.
2021's ArtNow represented the first iteration of the biennale model, an approach adopted to better showcase the new works of selected artists with active studio practices in Oklahoma. (The exhibition no longer includes an art sale.)
Marking this inaugural edition was a special exhibition that features a number of Bert Seabourn’s works in recognition of his contribution to the cultural landscape in the state. Seabourn’s works are in national and international collections, and he is the recipient of the Governor’s Arts Award from the Oklahoma Arts Council (1981) and an honorary Doctorate of Humane Letters (1997) from his alma mater, Oklahoma City University. Besides his dedication to art, Seabourn has fostered comradeship in the arts in Oklahoma and has committed his time and talent teaching at Oklahoma Contemporary for many years.
Selected Artworks
Participating Artists
- Sarah Ahmad
- Rea Baldridge
- Hoesy Corona
- Chase Kahwinhut Earles
- Joshua Jaiye Farrell
- Edward Grady
- Raven Halfmoon
- Melissa Jacobs
- Kreg Kallenberger
- Karam
- Carrie Kouts
- Sam Ladwig
- Kyle Larson
- Sarah Leis
- Kalup Linzy
- Amy Maguire
- Leigh Martin
- Simphiwe Mbunyuza
- Mandy Messina
- Nicole Moan
- Audrey Peck
- Gabriel Rojas
- Bert Seabourn
- Tanni’ (Tyra Shackleford)
- Scott Vo
- Daniel Worcester
- XVALA
Helen Opper is an independent curator and an Associate of the Appraisers Association of America. In addition to owning her own business, Opper Fine Art, she serves as Director of The Art Hall gallery in Oklahoma City and is an Adjunct Professor in the Visual Art Program at Oklahoma City Community College. After several years of working in the arts in San Francisco and New York, she returned to her hometown of Oklahoma City to focus on working with traditionally underrepresented artists and expanding equal access to opportunities for exhibitions, collaborations and special projects in her immediate community. As a fine art appraiser, her goal is to close the knowledge gap around the business of fine art and to provide general education about the importance of professional appraisals for artist and client advocacy. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of California, Berkeley, and earned her Master of Arts in Museum Studies at New York University.
Writer and editor Liz Blood, a 2021 Tulsa Artist Fellow, serves as Guest Curatorial Associate, providing curatorial and editorial support for the exhibition catalogue. Oklahoma Contemporary Associate Curator Pablo Barrera serves as coordinating curator. Opper picked up the curatorial baton for ArtNow 2021 from ArtNow 2019 Guest Curator Patrick Reynolds.
Images
- Hoesy Corona, Climate Poncho. Hoesy Corona, Climate Poncho, 2020. Hand-cut vinyl on vinyl, plastic rope and metal rod, 54 x 48 in. © Hoesy Corona. Photo courtesy the artist.. Photo courtesy the artist.
- Helen Opper. Helen Opper (Photo by Alexis Austin). Photo by Alexis Austin.
- Carrie Kouts, Dominion. Carrie Kouts, Dominion, 2020. Cast concrete, mixed media, and organic materials, 22 x 22 x 22 in. © Carrie Kouts. Photo by Matt Miller.. Photo by Matt Miller.
- Kyle Larson, The Road Home. Kyle Larson, The Road Home, 2021. Oil on canvas, 60 x 72 in. © Kyle Larson. Photo courtesy the artist.. Photo courtesy the artist.
- Karam Cheong, Vacation. Karam Cheong, Vacation, 2020. Acrylic on canvas, 32 x 26 x 3 in. © Karam Cheong. Photo courtesy the artist.. Photo courtesy the artist.
- Edward Grady, I Rise and Rise. Edward Grady, I Rise and Rise, 2017. Oil on canvas, 28 x 22 in. © Edward Grady. Photo by Alexis Austin.. Photo by Alexis Austin.
- Bert Seabourn, Get Your Kicks. Bert Seabourn, Get Your Kicks, 2010. Acrylic and collage on canvas, 60 x 48 in. © Bert Seabourn. Photo courtesy Alexis Austin.. Photo courtesy Alexis Austin.
