Alongside the paintings at The Big Picture Exhibition at The Gallery at Theo’s in Rogers, visitors encounter the artists themselves. 

Curated by Jerry Cooper, the exhibition pairs each artist’s work with a graphite portrait, encouraging viewers to consider the people behind the art they view. 

“It just brought us all together to have something in common,” featured artist Pam Watson said about the portraits. “I just love it.” 

This spirit of openness and positivity filled the evening as numerous creators offered glimpses into the stories and motivations driving their practice.

For one featured artist, Zeek Taylor of Eureka Springs, inspiration grows in his garden. Taylor spends upwards of 30 hours a week tending his garden and frequently paints hydrangeas picked from his own yard.

“They’re always organic and colorful, and each one’s different. So each time I bring a model in from my garden, it’s different from the one before,” Taylor said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Another featured artist, Liz Cox, builds her collages from years of collected papers and found materials. Mesh produce bags, painted papers and textured objects leave subtle impressions beneath layers of acrylic ink. Her piece Shine invokes different interpretations: Cox has heard viewers interpret it as a celestial occurrence (“I had someone say, ‘Ooh, it looks like the rapture!’” Cox recalled); however, she believes in the message that people should “shine.”  

For Central Arkansas artist Brande Wilkerson, art begins with memory. Her colorful, tactile sculptures explore childhood and the idea of a safe place. Some pieces are intentionally interactive, allowing viewers to move magnetic elements and physically engage with the work, a rare invitation in a gallery setting.

Tulsa artist Pam Watson approaches abstraction as both intuition and reflection. She often begins a painting by writing private notes of gratitude or personal intentions directly onto the canvas before covering them with layers of paint. During periods of political tension, she created Gentle Divide as an act of calm rather than conflict, using the painting itself to process the emotions surrounding her.

Though each artist’s process differs, they share a willingness to reveal something personal through their work and to celebrate their peers. Cooper’s exhibition asks viewers not only to admire technique, but to know and celebrate the people behind it. In doing so, The Big Picture reminds us that every finished work carries a lifetime of experiences and memories.

The new show features original works by 13 of the area’s foremost artists (and their graphite portraits):

  • Zeek Taylor
  • Amy Eichler
  • Karen Wagaman
  • Ruth Lawlor
  • Cindi Zimmerman
  • Leslie Perryman
  • Liz Cox
  • Brande Wilkerson
  • Alan Simmons
  • Jenn Baugh
  • Pam Watson (Tulsa)
  • Jennifer Weiss

And artist portraits by Jerry Cooper.

The show will be on display through August 1st.