Josey Owens EKU BFA Virtual Art Show

Josey Owens

Eastern Kentucky University

BFA Art Education

2021 Painting Exhibit

Artist Statement

Impactful portrait painting requires more than rendering physical likeness. The subject of a work is a vessel for displaying emotion and personality. It can represent the artist, the viewer, or entire groups and communities. In my acrylic paintings, I strive to create portraits that are symbolic and expressive. I have experimented with applying paint to unique surfaces, such as glass and Mylar paper, in order to do this.

Much of my portrait work analyzes issues of individual, cultural, and community identity. I recently completed a series of three acrylic paintings on glass that explore how an individual’s perception of God changes as their identity evolves. The main portrait depicts a female looking at her reflection in a mirror. I maintained an area of the unpainted, reflective surface in each piece to illustrate the changing nature of self-awareness and understanding.

My most contemporary painting addresses the tumultuous social and political climate of the United States. I have turned to art as a means of channeling daily fear and uncertainty. I Read the News Today, personifies these emotions. The piece consists of two layers of Mylar paper on a red base. The bottom layer documents news articles from 2020, while the top layer portrays eleven, radial portraits. These combined elements are designed to overwhelm the viewer in the same way that the events of 2020 overwhelmed the individual.