– Featuring OVAC Members Debra Martin-Barber and Jaiye Farrell –

Reception on January 20 at 10AM–1PM as part of our MLK Day programming in the Inasmuch Foundation Crystal Bridge Conservatory Visitor Lobby. During the reception, Debra will be teaching an art lesson and activity entitled "Myths & Folklore in Black History".

Exhibition Dates: Jan 9–Feb 26, 2025

About the artists:
Debra Elizabeth Martin is a multidisciplinary artist and educator based in Oklahoma City, whose vibrant and deeply meaningful work reflects her identity, ancestry, and community. With a background in commercial art and a master’s degree in human relations from The University of Oklahoma, Debra creates a wide range of expressive pieces, from landscapes to abstract works, often exploring themes of Black identity and mythology.

Inspired by her self-taught artist mother, she experiments with bold tropical pigments and West African textiles to craft narrative paintings that elevate Black aesthetics and representation.

Her celebrated series, “I’m a Black Mermaid: African Myths & Black Folklore and Mythology, Fables & Folklore: Celebrating Mermaids of Color” explore African mythology and the spiritual power of water, rooted in Yoruba traditions and the history of the Middle Passage. Combining exuberant colors and formal innovation, Debra’s art invites viewers into a subterranean world of freedom, beauty, and spiritual resonance, establishing her as a vital voIce in contemporary art.

Oklahoma-based artist Jaiye Farrell cultivated his style of painting from abstract patterns that transcend societal and cultural divides and remember the communal roots of humanity. From an infatuation with archeology emerged a creative and ambitious talent: to craft signature designs that inspire self-reflection and wonder.

Myriad Botanical Gardens | 301 W. Reno Oklahoma City, OK 73102