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
Nick Stull is an artist, muralist, and designer living in Columbus, Oh. Nick has exhibited his experimental portraits nationally and is represented by Sarah Gormley Gallery. Nick also owns an art & design firm called Day Blink Creative, where he produces a variety of large scale murals, custom painting and portraiture, and branding & design projects.
Grace Summanen was born in Ashtabula, OH, and currently lives and works in Euclid, OH. Her artwork pushes traditional definitions through material exploration and systematic approaches to abstraction. She works in various media including relief painting, installation, and works on paper. She received her MFA in painting from Kent State University in 2011 and her BFA in painting, drawing, and printmaking from Carnegie Mellon University in 1996. Grace has shown at numerous locations in Northeast Ohio including Abattoir Gallery, Zygote Press, Spaces, Waterloo Arts, and Yard Projects. She has shown nationally in group exhibitions including To See Is To Have: Navigating Today’s Art Ecosystem at the McNay Art Museum in San Antonio, TX; Big Idea at the Painting Center in New York City; and surface/material at the Pittsburgh Center for the Arts. Grace is a faculty member at Lake Erie College and Lakeland Community College.
Yan Sun
Professor of Art
Yan Sun, Distinguished Professor of Art, Chair of Art Department, and Gallery Director at Muskingum University. With an M.F.A. from Texas A&M University-Commerce, Yan Sun’s artistic journey spans expressive landscapes to portraiture, showcasing his exploration and expertise. He is a signature artist of Oil Painters of America and a signature artist of American Society of Marine Artists. Zanesville Museum of Art named a gallery in his honor. Hayden Museum of American Art published his paintings in books. His diverse exhibitions include esteemed museums and galleries, and his works are in museum and private collections.
I would rather create than sleep. Unfortunately I am human, and don’t have many hours in the day but when I do, I am working on an original acrylic painting, cross stitch or embroidery, and trying to learn how to crotchet. I am an artist based out of east Columbus near Whitehall, where I create my art as well as work full-time as a Peer Recovery Supporter supporting others in early addiction recovery and attempting to bring creative coping skills to my clients and the recovery community.…
Michael Surber
Artist
As an award-winning Ohio-based artist, Michael Surber has carved out a unique niche in the art world, one that honors the legacy of painting while pushing its boundaries. His artwork continues to inspire and captivate, securing his place as a significant contemporary artist whose work resonates with a wide audience, inviting us all to find our own stories within the vibrant hues and bold textures of his creations.
Born in Columbus Ohio, art has always been a very important part of her life. Gale’s passion for art was nurtured early at Northland High School where she was able to interact with a dedicated teacher and many other talented art students.
Nita Sweeney is the award-winning wellness author of the running and mental health memoir, Depression Hates a Moving Target: How Running with My Dog Brought Me Back from the Brink and co-creator of the writing journal, You Should Be Writing: A Journal of Inspiration & Instruction to Keep Your Pen Moving. A long-time meditator, three-time marathoner, and former assistant to writing practice originator Natalie Goldberg, Nita founded the Facebook group Mind, Mood, and Movement to support mental well-being through meditation, exercise, and writing practice. She also publishes the writing resource newsletter, Write Now Columbus. Nita lives in central Ohio with her husband, Ed, and their yellow Labrador retriever, Scarlet. Go to Nita’s website to download your free copy of Nita’s eBook Three Ways to Heal Your Mind.
Matt Swift is a Columbus based artist, filmmaker, educator and community organizer whose work combines multiple mediums and modes, including photography, painting, video, digital compositions, mixed media with a deep connection to historical avant-garde and experimental movements of all art forms.