The Ohio Artist Registry (OAR) is an exciting opportunity for artists to share their work, connect with the creative community, and establish an online presence—all on a free, virtual platform! The OAR encourages artists working in all art forms, throughout Ohio and beyond, to create a profile, which allows them to better promote themselves and their work. Being listed in the OAR provides artists with new opportunities to share their work with clients, galleries, patrons, and audiences. A listing in the OAR does not confer an endorsement, approval, or verification by the Ohio Arts Council.
For more information, contact Kathy Signorino, artist programs director, at kathy.signorino@oac.ohio.gov or 614-728-6140.
2024 Ohio Artist Registry Juried Exhibition
Doug Becht
Bio
Doug Becht (b. 1985 in Cleveland, Ohio; lives and works near Wooster, Ohio) is a contemporary painter best known for his distinctive approach influenced by Pop Art, Neo Expressionism, and a hint of cubism. His artworks delve into life, the human experience, nostalgia, and modern society.
Becht’s artistic oeuvre is characterized by his utilization of vintage imagery and concepts from the Golden Age of comics, sourced from the public domain. His paintings often feature panels extracted from comic narratives, devoid of their original story context. This deliberate abstraction invites viewers to interpret their own narratives, fostering a dialogue between the artwork and its audience, as well as a sense of sonder.
Artist Statement
My artistic practice is rooted in the exploration of life, the human experience, and nostalgia. Influenced by the vibrant energy of 1960’s Pop Art, infused with elements of Neo Expressionism and Cubism, my work seeks to engage viewers in a contemplative dialogue about contemporary society.
Life comes with circumstances we cannot control, good or bad, as well as repercussions for decisions and actions that we have to accept and live with. My process is a reflection of this. I use a combination of acrylic paint and oil pastel in my work. This allows me to work quickly and combine painting and drawing techniques spontaneously in the moment.
As a piece develops, my actions and decisions can lead to happy accidents or mistakes with consequences that I must solve or accept. Just as our experiences make us into who we are, my art emerges from this process of cause and consequence.
I employ panels extracted from comics of the Golden Age, sourced from the public domain, as a vehicle for exploration. By extracting these panels from their original narrative context, I invite viewers to construct their own stories and meanings, fostering an interactive engagement with the artwork. I encourage viewers to contemplate their own perspectives and personal narratives.
