10 Local Artists to Know in OKC
Team at Verbode
Whitney Batres
Available on display at the Art Night at Verbode on December 8th from 6-9PM. Find us in the Wheeler District at 1711 Spoke Street.
Whitney Batres is a painter and curator based in Oklahoma City. She gained a B.F.A. in Studio Art from the University of Texas at Austin and has gained recognition through exhibitions and publications throughout the United States. Batres’ practice is a form of escapism, a major theme she began exploring in the pandemic. Taking inspiration from traditional fiber art practices and Bauhaus design, Batres creates vibrant artwork that utilizes shape and color to evoke emotion. Basic geometric forms are abstracted to create visually interesting shapes and patterns, sometimes resembling identifiable household objects. They are layered in a way that creates separate, two-dimensional “rooms,” as if these shapes live in an imaginary space that can be visited and looked in upon by the viewer as desired. These spaces are worlds entirely unaffected by reality and provide a moment of levity and playfulness for the world-weary.
Tim Long
Available on display at the Art Night at Verbode on December 8th from 6-9PM. Find us in the Wheeler District at 1711 Spoke Street.
Tim draws inspiration from the expansive beauty of the Great Plains and the rich mix of people and cultures that have shaped Oklahoma's identity. Born and raised in Duncan, Tim brings a down-to-earth vibe to his art. He's all about capturing the heart and soul of his roots.
Hannah Harper
Available on display at the Art Night at Verbode on December 8th from 6-9PM. Find us in the Wheeler District at 1711 Spoke Street.
Hannah Harper grew up in the Southern Oklahoma countryside. She was encouraged to pursue creativity at a young age and collected art education from various sources as a child. At 17, she took a workshop with artists John and Terri Moyers at the National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum in Oklahoma City who soon after took her under their wing and has mentored her ever since. She studied at the Scottsdale Artist School in Scottsdale, Arizona and the Ryder Studio Atelier in Santa Fe, New Mexico. She graduated from the University of New Mexico in 2019 with a BFA in studio art and completed her MFA in painting at the University of Oklahoma in 2023. Her current work is rooted in outdoor field study and plein air painting combined with researching symbiotic relationships between wildlife and analyzing how elements of the natural world resemble elements of human nature. Norman, Oklahoma is home.
Katelynn Noel Knick
Available on display at the Art Night at Verbode on December 8th from 6-9PM. Find us in the Wheeler District at 1711 Spoke Street.
Ketelynn Knick is a professional artist, educator, and creative coach living in Oklahoma City. Her solo projects have been exhibited at the Ft. Smith Regional Art Museum, Plaza Walls Mural Expo, Paseo Arts & Creativity Center, ahha Tulsa, and MAINSITE Contemporary Art. Dedicated to supporting artists of all ages through empowerment, education, and community building - Katelynn founded the online artist platform Art Friends, co-founded the Oklahoma-based artist collective Art Group, and currently serves as a board member for Sunny Dayz Mural Festival and as an independent teaching artist and consultant for art organizations across the state.
Jared Kinley
Jared Kinley haas been photographing professionally since 2015 but he has had a camera in his hand longer than he has not. Born in the 90s, Jared became fascinated with pop culture and creatives from the 70s, 80s, and 90s which gave him a unique style and love for a slower, more intentional process. He has made his way into the art scene with his original conceptual pieces and is appreciated by galeries and collectors alike. He has reinvigorated the process of photography and found the way to bring the highest quality of images to life. Holding true to those photographers before him like Avedon and Newton, he composes masterful works of art which are printed in limited editions at a size that will fit your walls. He also owns a photography studio which is open to other photographers who want to rent space for themselves. he lives in Oklahoma where he is building a reputation with galleries and collectors so that he can one day become as well known as the photographers that inspire him. Jared Kinley does more than take photos, he creates images.
Denise Duong
Denise Duong was born and raised in Oklahoma City, OK. She attended art school in Chicago, creating and exploring along the way. Her love for nature, adventure, exploration, and working with her hands, influence her artwork and everything she does.
Marissa Raglin
Marissa Raglin is a visual artist living in Oklahoma City currently working in handmade collage, resin, and printmaking. Raglin has exhibited her work nationally and can be found knee-deep in vintage books and magazines plucked from thrift stores and half-priced book shops. Raglin received her BA in Studio Art from Oklahoma Baptist University. She is extra lucky to be wife to Nathan and mom to two boys, Quinn and Sully. Raglin is a resident artist in the historic Studio Six gallery located in the Paseo Arts District in Oklahoma City.
Mary James Ketch
Mary James Ketch is a painter residing in the serene woods surrounding Norman, Oklahoma. She endeavors to capture a world she envisions—one that is dreamy, beautiful, and evocative. With academic achievements including a B.A. from the University of Oklahoma and an M.F.A. from the University of Southern California, School of Cinema-Television, Mary is, at her core, a self-taught artist. Her painting process is deeply intuitive, reflecting her unique and personal approach to her craft.
Aldo Delara
Aldo is a film photographer based in Oklahoma City. His passion for photography was discovered during childhood at a flea market, where he stumbled upon a Canon AE-1 film camera. Aldo acquired the camera, initiating a collection of film cameras, and embarked on using them to explore and document the world. He considers himself fortunate to be in his current position, having seized the opportunity to pursue his passion.
Klint Schor
Klint Schor is a sculptor with a background in graphic design from the University of Central Oklahoma. Influenced by Bauhaus and Constructivism, Klint creates functional sculptures, blending artistry with architectural pragmatism. With a keen understanding of architecture and construction principles, Klint employs a unique process, listening to the space and balancing its needs with user functionality. This approach has led to the development of "art"itecture, where each project is approached independently. Klint's work constantly evolves to strike a balance between space, user, and function, utilizing unconventional methods to present materials in new ways. With over years of experience as a self-employed artist/builder, Klint has successfully undertaken diverse projects, including public art sculptures, installations in institutions, and design/build for private residences and restaurants.
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