Bellamy. Mercer.

Oklahoma artists Jessica Bellamy and Sunni Mercer both explore ideas of personal and cultural identity, creating textural paintings and sculptures utilizing found objects. Bellamy buries, layers, excavates, and reveals imagery, texture, and elements from nature, creating art that explores identity and purpose, space and time. Mercer creates complex assemblage sculptures inspired by the human torso and patterns in nature and created from gathered objects. Through these pieces, she explores concepts of heritage, identity, and self.

"My work tells Oklahoma's story through visual references to place and culture. I view my creative process as a journey to create a distinct visual language that connects me to my cultural heritage." - Jessica Bellamy

Jessica Bellamy is an artist and educator residing in Norman, Oklahoma. Jessica's work has been featured in solo exhibits in Texas and Oklahoma and she has participated in group and juried exhibitions throughout the U.S. Jessica is always interested in teaching workshops and private lessons in her area and is able to instruct a wide range of processes and media.

"I find the distressed objects I use remarkably beautiful. Overall, the materials, denote the ruggedness of the land, and the resolute uniqueness of the people of Oklahoma." - Sunni Mercer

Sunni Mercer is an NEA Regional Fellow with experience in the area of communications, interpretive art and design. Her art work is archived at the Smithsonian Institution. Sunni's sculptures, interpretive design and installation work have been the subject of over 100 articles in a variety of national periodicals and publications.