Meet the Momentum 2024 Spotlight Artists

It seems no matter where someone turns in most Oklahoma towns, they are bound to come across impressive displays of community art. The Sooner State is not lacking in public art beauty, and we have generations of talented local artists to thank for that. No matter how much time passes, new talent always rises to the occasion to help Oklahomans see the world around them in a new way.

The state’s annual celebration of the new wave of artistic talent is Momentum, an exhibition organized each year by the Oklahoma Visual Artists Coalition to highlight the work of emerging creators in a variety of mediums. This year’s Momentum kicks off at Oklahoma City’s Yale Theater April 5-6 with a show featuring work from dozens of Oklahoma artists under the age of thirty, including three spotlight artists who each created new bodies of work for the exhibition.

The Momentum spotlight artists for 2024 include Cherokee painter and visual artist Bayliegh Fields, Tulsa-based sculptor and printmaker Erin Owen, and Oklahoma City-based fiber artist Kendall Ross. In anticipation of this year’s show, Oklahoma Today sent out identical, four-question surveys to Momentum’s spotlight artists to help get to know each of them better. See each of their responses and an example of their work below:

Tell us about a favorite or notable piece of yours that folks will be able to see while visiting Momentum. What is the title, what went into creating it, and why does it stand out to you?

In Synchrony is the piece that stands out most to me, it's the largest piece in the series (Echos of Youth) and the only one that has traditional portraiture, but also is the unifying piece that ties everything together. Creating this piece was the most personal of the bunch, but also the most challenging. I started at it in a very naturalistic palette and it just wasn't working the way I wanted it to. The colors ended up being much more vibrant and dreamy. It worked for the best though because I ended up with a piece that not only shaped this body of work but is representative of how a lot of my work outside of this show feels.

What does it personally mean to you to be selected as a Spotlight Artist for Momentum?

The honor I feel from being picked as a spotlight artist is immense. This is my second year working with OVAC for Momentum, and the first year I was chosen as the emerging curator. This will be my first year showing work in Momentum at all, and to have it be the opportunity to create the body of work that I proposed is still kind of mind boggling to me; even more so to have those two experiences back to back.

What do you think this new, emerging wave of artistic talent in Oklahoma is bringing into the local arts community? Is there anything special or unique about the other emerging talent in this state?

I think Oklahoma artists have a unique perspective on art because, for a majority of Oklahomans, art is not something that is really part of our standard everyday life. It is not taught in abundance in our education systems, especially in rural areas, and it is limited in scope. Oklahomans in art are largely in it because they were drawn to it on a personal level, and motivated by that love to continue pursuing it. Artists in Oklahoma are especially drawn to showcase the diversity of experience in Oklahoma due to our unique position politically, culturally, and geographically. We come together because of these experiences, and bring something very interesting and unique to art.

Buying an artist’s work is of course a direct way of supporting them, but are there any other ways local art enthusiasts can better support the artists in their community?

I think showing up means a lot more to an artist than you'd think. Personally, I think morale is gained when you get to just discuss what you've made, and a lot of satisfaction comes from your work being admired. Showing up to those openings means something.

Not Again.. Oil painting. 2022. Bayliegh Fields

Tell us about a favorite or notable piece of yours that folks will be able to see while visiting Momentum. What is the title, what went into creating it, and why does it stand out to you?

I think the work I am most excited for others to see and experience is my new installation-based work titled SCRATCH that invites viewers into the piece to create and alter their own games.

The work consists of tufted rugs that function as the immersive game board and are accompanied by ten game boxes. Within each box there are blank game cards, blank game instructions, dice, pencils, and a timer.

For me, this artwork is special because it challenges the notion of power and rulemaking. I love that it gives viewers the opportunity to be fully a part of the work and to maybe sit with the questions of “who is making the rules?” and “why can’t my voice be the one that matters?”

What does it personally mean to you to be selected as a Spotlight Artist for Momentum?

This has been a monumental milestone in my career as a visual artist! Ever since I found OVAC roughly eight years ago, I knew I wanted to get involved. I was lucky enough to be an intern in 2021 and helped organize the 12x12 exhibition going on, as well as being selected as a general survey artist in 2022! Every Momentum I have been to, I have looked up greatly to the Spotlight Artists and hoped that one day that could be me!

The grant has also allowed me to get a few saws and hand tools that I really needed to make work after graduating college, which has completely changed my life.

What do you think this new, emerging wave of artistic talent in Oklahoma is bringing into the local arts community? Is there anything special or unique about the other emerging talent in this state?

There are not enough wonderful things to say about the Oklahoma creative community! It’s clear that the artists here have grit, and there is an undeniable feeling of a renaissance going on. This community is dedicated to uplifting others and to speak from the heart. I find that this generation of artists have the capacity to find humor and empathy, and to find the middle ground. We are interested in having productive, hard conversations.

Buying an artist’s work is of course a direct way of supporting them, but are there any other ways local art enthusiasts can better support the artists in their community?

I think the one thing that would make me feel better as an aspiring artist is to see more friendly faces at community events! Connecting with others in creative spaces is one of my favorite things as an artist, and having those conversations really motivate me to keep going.

Operation. Salt fired ceramic. 2023. Erin Owens

Photo by Mary Ross

Tell us about a favorite or notable piece of yours that folks will be able to see while visiting Momentum. What is the title, what went into creating it, and why does it stand out to you?

One notable piece I made for this project (Girly Things) is called Double Header. It's a two-headed sweater I knit while attending a residency at the Penland School of Craft in North Carolina. This piece is hand-knit with wool and is inspired by my relationship with creating work that is often misunderstood because of the medium I use.

What does it personally mean to you to be selected as a Spotlight Artist for Momentum?

I am honored to be a Spotlight Artist. I look forward to Momentum every year, and it is so exciting to see the talent coming from young artists in Oklahoma. Having the opportunity to focus on creating a specific body of work for Momentum has been creatively fulfilling, and I'm so excited for everyone to see it.

What do you think this new, emerging wave of artistic talent in Oklahoma is bringing into the local arts community? Is there anything special or unique about the other emerging talent in this state?

I am consistently amazed by the artistic talent in Oklahoma. In the Oklahoma City arts community, I am equally inspired by how eager artists are to find ways to work together and support others. Individual talent in a state or city can only get you so far, it's the community and team mindset that pushes things forward.

Buying an artist’s work is of course a direct way of supporting them, but are there any other ways local art enthusiasts can better support the artists in their community?

Showing up, whether it's online or in person, will always be a great way to support local artists. Additionally, supporting organizations that fund arts programming, especially those that help create educational art programs for young Oklahomans, will always strengthen an arts community.

Art bro (back). Hand knit with wool. 2023. Kendall Ross

Momentum 2024
7:00 p.m.-10 p.m. April 5-6
The Yale Theater
Oklahoma City
ovac-ok.org

Written By

Ben Luschen

Luschen joined the *Oklahoma Today*’ staff as Research Editor in 2021 and currently works as the magazine's Web Editor, managing the website and social media fronts. His past *Oklahoma Today* stories have ranged in content from the state's bee and quail industries to its vibrant art and music scenes. Not adverse to a road trip, Luschen is always on the lookout for the next big adventure. He is never out of opinions about the current state of Oklahoma City Thunder basketball.