Oasis:II | Denae Elise
Friday, May 8 2026, through Friday, July 10 2026
Opening Reception: 6-9 p.m. Friday, May 8
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“Art is simply the manifestation of thought the mind cannot speak that shows complexities of self.”
This belief guides my work as a mixed media artist. I use acrylic paint along with materials like dried flowers, fabric, and found objects to create layered pieces that flow between two-dimensional and three-dimensional space. My work combines abstraction and surrealism to reflect personal experience and cultural influences.
I often focus on one body part at a time. This allows me to explore its significance beyond anatomy—revealing its emotional, symbolic, and structural importance. Each part becomes a way to express memory, vulnerability, and identity through form and material.The textures and natural elements I use are not just for visual effect—they represent transformation, time, and the layers of experience we carry. Through this process, my work becomes a physical record of thought and feeling that cannot always be spoken.
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Denae Elise (b. 2000, Oklahoma City, OK) is a visual artist whose acrylic mixed media practice blends abstraction and surrealism to examine personal identity and cultural memory. Her work incorporates textural materials such as dried flowers, fabric, and plaster, creating layered surfaces that flow between two- and three-dimensional space. These materials function as symbolic extensions of transformation, impermanence, and emotional depth.
Drawing from her education in healthcare, Elise approaches her work with a detailed understanding of anatomy. She often focuses on a single body part in each piece, highlighting its significance beyond the physical form. This focus creates a dialogue between clinical insight and creative expression, exploring themes of vulnerability and complexity.Raised in Oklahoma City, her art reflects her lived experience and ongoing material investigations. Guided by her belief that “art is simply the manifestation of thought the mind cannot speak that shows complexities of self,” her practice invites viewers to engage with the intimate layers of meaning embedded in her compositions.
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