Artists Experiencing Homelessness show work in Fresh stART Art Show

-- DNA Galleries hosts the showcase of striking artwork

OKLAHOMA CITY — The Homeless Alliance’s Fresh stART art show launched Sunday, Jan. 12 at DNA Galleries in the Plaza District. This annual event showcases the talents of individuals currently or formerly experiencing homelessness, providing them a platform to display and sell their creations. The show is free and open to the public and runs through Feb. 8. 

Fresh StART, part of the Homeless Alliance‘s mission to support individuals experiencing homelessness, offers weekly art classes at Westtown Homeless Resource Campus. The program fosters creative expression, coping skills, and emotional resilience, with local artists guiding participants. Artists also earn a share of sales, providing both income and fulfillment.

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Clients of the OKC Homeless Alliance gather mid-morning on Wed., Nov. 27, 2024 in anticipation of a full Thanksgiving Meal at the Day Shelter in Oklahoma City. (B.DICKERSON/Okla City Free Press)

“It’s about just giving people the space to express themselves and work through some negative emotions they might be going through,” Taylor Self, Homeless Alliance Director of Communications, said in an interview with Free Press. “Experiencing homelessness and living on the streets can be a really traumatic experience, and with it comes a lot of really kind of dark experiences. Art and the ability to create it can help work through some of those things.”

Fresh StART, inspired by Austin’s “Art from the Streets” model, has been part of the Homeless Alliance’s programming for over a decade. The program not only highlights the talents of people experiencing homelessness but also challenges public perceptions.

“When you’re experiencing homelessness, you feel a little overlooked,” Self told Free Press. “People walk by, and they just think that’s all you are, and, when you get to create art, it makes those people feel like an artist and builds self-confidence and self-worth.” 

Art on display

The program hosts three annual art shows: two at the Homeless Alliance in May and October, and the event at DNA Galleries each January. The partnership with DNA Galleries aims to build confidence by showcasing the artists’ work in a professional gallery setting, emphasizing that their art is valuable and deserving of recognition.

“DNA galleries are a huge supporter of the Homeless Alliance,” Zaneen Fletcher-Hall, Homeless Alliance Volunteer Coordinator, told Free Press in an interview. “We’re incredibly grateful for their support and helping us put this show together, because there’s nothing nicer than for the artists to see that they’re in a gallery.”

The partnership began when Lindsay Harkness of DNA Galleries, then involved with the Curbside Flower Shop, learned about the Fresh StART program and wanted to support it. Now in its sixth year at DNA Galleries, Lindsay eagerly anticipates the event each year, enjoying the connections it fosters and the stories it brings to light.

“It’s just very moving, having a way to help people that is really actually helping,” Harkness said about the program. “That’s part of why we do it, to give someone hope and keep moving forward.” 

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Gallery owner Harkness packages up a painting for a customer at DNA Galleries (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)

Lindsay notes that the show offers a meaningful way to give back after the holidays while highlighting the Homeless Alliance’s crucial work during the colder months. She is deeply moved by the art, which reflects the struggles of homelessness and the transformative impact of the studio classes.

“Sometimes things happen to people that are just inconceivable, “ Harkness said. “If for one hour that they can go into a class and just create, it helps them get out of that and provide an outlet.” 

A painting tells a thousand words 

The show presents a vibrant mix of artwork across various mediums, including mixed media, collage, watercolor, and photography. Among the highlights are whimsical paintings, jewelry, and paint-poured canvases, with one artist using inspiration from her work with Curbside Flowers. Another artist captures deeply personal moments with an old Nokia phone, reflecting his experiences of homelessness and daily life. Visitors can read the artists’ stories alongside their art, offering a deeper look into their journeys and artistic perspectives.

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A vibrant display of mixed media pieces with diverse colors and textures adorns the DNA Galleries for the Fresh stART Art show by the OKC Homeless Alliance. (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)

Mary, a fan-favorite artist, has been painting serene landscapes for several years, primarily using watercolor with touches of acrylic and pen. Though she’s never visited the places she paints, such as the Arizona desert, her eye for color brings them to life. 

“Being with all the other people, I feel like I have a family,” Mary wrote in her bio. “I feel like I find my answers in art.” 

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Mary’s watercolors on display at DNA Galleries, with many already sold on opening day at the DNA Galleries for the Fresh stART Art show by the OKC Homeless Alliance. (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)

Phillip, a longtime participant in the Fresh StART program, is known for his textured, vibrant landscapes and has even begun mentoring fellow artists in the program. Phillip’s journey began over a decade ago when he discovered paint and brushes behind a dumpster and decided to give art a try.

“I paint because it’s a way to make things beautiful,” Phillip wrote in his bio. “There is so much ugliness in the world, and sometimes you can just paint over it and make something good. It’s the best thing I’ve ever done. I hope to one day be able to do it all the time.”

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Phillip’s landscape paintings, on display at the DNA Galleries for the Fresh stART Art show by the OKC Homeless Alliance. (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)

When Phillip first began painting, he used only black and white, but, as he gained stability and housing, vibrant colors emerged in his work.

“It really just showed the help that art gives to people’s mental health,” Fletcher-Hall said about Phillip’s paintings. “It literally adds color over the years.”

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Fletcher-Hall (center) discusses the art and stories of the artists with guests on opening day at the DNA Galleries for the Fresh stART Art show by the OKC Homeless Alliance. (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)

Trash into Treasure

The program relies on community donations of supplies, and folks can donate supplies throughout the show at DNA Galleries. Helpful donations include canvases, bead kits, clay paints, air-drying clay, paintbrushes, and used art magazines or books for collages. Partially used supplies, like acrylic paint, watercolors, and pencils, are also welcome. Each donation supports the program and nurtures the artists’ creativity.

Fletcher-Hall highlighted how unconventional materials, like used canvases, feather boas, and dice, can be repurposed into new art. For example, artist Donato spent months turning a found piece of wood into a vibrant Titanic painting.

“It’s nice to have something unusual so that artists that come to the class can try something new and experiment,” Fletcher-Hall said. “A lot of our artists are very good at turning things that we might ignore or throw away into beautiful pieces of art.” 

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Artist Donato’s work (left) and artist Travis’s work (right) with the wood titanic piece seen top left at the DNA Galleries for the Fresh stART Art show by the OKC Homeless Alliance. (ZOE.ELROD/Okla City Free Press)

Fletcher-Hall has witnessed many artists benefit from the program over the years and looks forward to showcasing their work annually. More than that, she cherishes the joy she sees in the artists during their classes.

“It’s a lovely class where everybody comes in and just supports each other,” she told Free Press. “Some of our artists have had such a hard life and they still see such vibrant color.” 

The free show runs through Feb. 8 at DNA Galleries in the Plaza District and accepts donations both on-site and through the Homeless Alliance. 


Author Profile

Zoe Elrod covers events and happenings around Oklahoma City for Free Press bringing her skill as a reporter and photographer. Zoe has spent her career covering local musicians, artists, politicians, and everyday folks.