Northwestern welcomes artist to campus

November 19, 2015

Northwestern Oklahoma State University’s Visual Art program has welcomed Jackie Feng into the Ranger family as the Artist-in-Residence throughout October and November.

The Artist-in-Residence program was established in the Visual Arts program two years ago. The program is an invitation from Northwestern for a professional artist to come stay in Alva for a month to two months to live, create art and help teach students.

“Students get the opportunity to see what it is really like to be a working professional artist,” Kyle Larson, assistant professor of art.

Feng has assisted Larson in the classroom, held workshops on campus as well as at the Graceful Arts Center, and she has exhibited her work for the community to see at the Runnymede. She will have a culminating show at the Graceful Arts on Friday, Dec. 4, from 6-8 p.m.

“I have enjoyed the change of pace from the big city to Alva,” Feng said.

Artist-In-Residence Jackie Feng displaying oil painting techniques on her most recent painting.

Jackie Feng (b. 1982) was born and raised in Champaign, Illinois and graduated in 2004 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Industrial Design from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After working for several years as a graphic designer in Des Moines and Boston she began painting in her late 20’s, and graduated in 2015 from Boston University with a Master of Fine Arts in Painting/Printmaking. She now lives and works in Los Angeles, Calif., with her husband and dog.

"Painting is an emotional and spiritual pursuit,” Feng said. “I seek a personal understanding of the deep patterns that make up our lives through painting the things I encounter in my day to day life. Personal life experiences and musings are the starting point for my work and also the end goal; the process of creating my work is a catalyst in better comprehending my personal world and how it relates to the universe beyond it."

To view Feng's artwork visit jackiefeng.com or for more information on the Artist-in-Residence program, or Northwestern’s art programs contact Larson at (580) 327-8108 or krlarson@nwosu.edu.

-NW-