Press Release | Chickasaw Nation

The shiny colours, daring traces, whimsical themes and blissful faces evoked pure pleasure and happiness in Kiki Hamilton’s artwork and drew patrons to her sales space — like butterflies to flowers — throughout final spring’s Artesian Arts Festival in Sulphur.

The up-and-coming Chickasaw artist showcased her “Party Animal” collection that contains a menagerie of colourful canines, elephants, zebras and different creatures celebrating life. Pink, yellow and shiny blue dominate Hamilton’s artwork, however it’s balanced with black and white items.

“I love painting with color, and I like to do a lot of fun characters,” Hamilton mentioned.

Earlier this 12 months, Hamilton utilized and was accepted to showcase her artwork on the Artesian Arts Festival. Her expertise on the pageant was so optimistic, she utilized and was accepted for the Southeastern Arts Show and Market (SEASAM), set Oct. 2-3 on the Chickasaw Nation Historic Capitol Building grounds throughout Chickasaw Annual Meeting and Festival in Tishomingo, Oklahoma.

“The Artesian Arts Festival was my first arts festival with the Chickasaw Nation, which I was really excited to do,” Hamilton mentioned.

To put together for the pageant, she enhanced the “Party Animal” assortment, together with creating a large 4-foot pink poodle portray and two further monumental work which dominated her sales space on the Artesian Arts Festival.

The up to date artist has one purpose together with her artwork: to intensify the optimistic.

“I think good art kind of evokes emotion, and it’s so easy to focus on negative stuff, but I really hope that my art is evoking joy,” she mentioned. “That is really what I want to bring into the world. I just hope that (the art) is a reminder that joy is still an available option and that you can always pick it.”

She mentioned she hopes the “Party Animal” collection evokes the viewer to get pleasure from on daily basis and serves as a reminder that having enjoyable is price celebrating.

Growing up in Oklahoma City, Hamilton, 25, was inspired to discover her creative facet by her father, Jeff, who can be an artist, in addition to her mom, Sherry.

After ending highschool, Hamilton studied to be a make-up artist however later pivoted to color on canvas.

To put together for the Southeastern Arts Show and Market, Hamilton is as soon as once more in her Oklahoma City studio including to the “Party Animal” collection. “I’m focusing on a few smaller pieces. That way the art is accessible to more people.”

Hamilton might be attending the Southeastern Arts Show and Market (SEASAM) for the primary time. She is wanting ahead to connecting with new artists and fellow Chickasaw residents, and reconnecting to First American artists she met on the Artesian Arts Festival.

“I’m very excited to meet more artists. I’m excited to meet other people in the community, and I’m really excited to keep learning because (the Artesian Arts Festival) was a big learning experience. This time should be another big learning experience, but I’m excited to get out there and meet some people.”

Her Chickasaw heritage comes from her mom’s facet of the household, she mentioned, including she remembers attending her Chickasaw great-grandmother Billie Menifee’s funeral and studying extra about her Chickasaw roots.

Her Chickasaw mom was by her facet on the arts pageant, demonstrating the parental assist Hamilton has skilled and appreciates.

Hamilton additionally appreciates the continual assist the Chickasaw Nation provides its residents. She remembers using providers resembling the college clothes grant when she was a scholar and now proudly shows her Chickasaw tag on her car.

“I love the Chickasaw Nation and what they do for the community. I just think that’s so special how they include everybody,” she mentioned.

When she just isn’t engaged on artwork for the upcoming arts market, Hamilton accepts commissions for pet portraits and has added her whimsical characters to a couple nurseries within the metro space. She has additionally established an Etsy store.

An extended-range purpose is to create a kids’s guide primarily based on her “Party Animal” collection, she mentioned.

Kiki Hamilton’s artwork might be considered on Instagram at Instagram.com/kikispartyanimals.