Surrealism and fantasy: The art of AK Westerman at OkEq
The October Oklahomans for Equality (OkEq) showcase and exhibit of local artists at the Dennis R. Neill Equality Center (621 E. 4th Street in Downtown Tulsa) will feature the works of AK Westerman in a show beginning with a reception on Thursday, October 1st from 6-9pm and continuing throughout the month.
AK segued to full time professional artist after spending over a decade in the graphic design and marketing industry. She is quickly gaining worldwide recognition for her unique work, featuring fantasy and surrealistic elements and compositions, vivid color and intricate details. She applies her craft to a variety of mediums, including canvas, wood panels, 3D wooden objects and skate decks.
In addition to several local solo exhibitions, her work has been showcased in a number of regional and national juried exhibitions in Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio and California. AK is an active member of several Oklahoma art organizations, including Oklahoma Visual Arts Coalition, Paseo Arts Association, and Oklahoma’s only women’s art organization - Fringe. She was also a 2014 ArtistINC Live Fellowship and Oklahoma Visual arts Coalition 2014 Artist Grant recipient. She lives and works in Edmond, OK.
AK explains: “I work primarily within the surrealism and fantasy genres. I enjoy integrating natural and technological elements in vivid and intricately detailed compositions. While every piece is derived from my own personal narrative, I always attempt to include some ambiguity, allowing the viewer to fill in pieces of the story according to their own unique perspective.
“I enjoy working on a large scale, as I believe it creates an almost ‘epic’ feel for the viewer, allowing them to lose themselves in the minute details. The term ‘organic’ is an apt description for both my creative process and my choice of subject matter, as I prefer to let the work take on a life of its own and my subconscious express itself freely and fluidly without preconceptions.
The show begins with a reception on Thursday, October 1 from 6-9pm where there will be a door prize drawn of the artist’s work; the show continues throughout the month. www.okeq.org.
The Gayly – September 27, 2015 @ 5am.