Paul Medina
Paul Medina has spent most of his life creating in Oklahoma. "I think I was an artist even before I knew what that was," states Medina. As a child, he loved to peruse the ground for unusual artifacts, like rocks and bottle caps, to construct tiny sculptures. Paul's mom, an avid painter, strongly supported his creative endeavors and once purchased an extensive collection of art supplies that Medina recalls was "the greatest Christmas ever." Whether drawing or shaping found-art figures, Medina seemed destined for an artistic career that has spanned over fifty years.
The city Medina lived in had only one art museum and no galleries, so he was inspired by an internal motivation to hone his craft and express himself in multiple art forms. Medina grew to be a talented musician that toured with several bands. However, he learned that keeping the band together was a challenge, and ultimately creating visual art was where he wanted to focus his life. Medina contacted galleries throughout the United States to see if they would sell his artworks. He was one of the only Oklahoma artists at the time to seek out gallery representation outside the state. He immediately secured gallery representation throughout the United States and soon thrived as a gallery artist throughout the late Seventies and early Nineties, exhibiting shows each year. Notable past exhibition sites include the Oklahoma Museum of Art, the Philbrook Museum of Art in Tulsa, and the Heard Museum in Phoenix, Arizona.
Over time, Medina grew tired of painting the same themes and was more inspired to explore different artistic styles. Unfortunately, the studios representing him did not share his enthusiasm for his distinctive new works, even though his art blended nicely with the genre. "When I tried something more contemporary, I was shunned by the galleries," recalls Medina. Around the same time, Southwest Art magazine published an extensive article on him. Viewing his creative path from the outside made him realize he wanted to do more. After a long conversation with his wife, he asked the galleries to send back his work and follow his instincts to challenge himself and create what felt meaningful.
The decision to pull his work from the galleries is one that Paul never regrets. "It's taken me to where I am right now," states Medina. The bold move challenged Medina to push the limits of his creativity and discover a process that guides him and the work he creates today. Medina's struggle to master unknown tools and materials to create new work is joyful. Each new medium helps him discover how best to illustrate his ideas. Medina feels the creation process and the art are both an intrinsic part of him. He rejects inventing the same creation repeatedly and instead freely explores ideas inspired by current thoughts, feelings, and experiences. Embracing this liberating process means that he does not seek out a show until he completes the artwork.
His last show about grief and loss, Roses and Thorns, took three years to create. During two years, Paul lost both his parents and his brother. "It was all on me to keep it together and support those that needed comfort," states Medina. His studio became his place for healing and expression, and the entire process was particularly cathartic. "I don't know what I would have done if I didn't have the creative outlet," says Medina. Letting his thoughts and feelings flow freely into his work produced his most successful show. Medina recalls, "People came to me and got the work. We all share grief and loss, which is why I believe the work was well received."
Medina believes we all can utilize art to express ourselves and heal from our traumatic experiences. For 26 years, he's been illustrating this fact by sharing his expertise and insight with children. After owning a coffee shop in the trendy Oklahoma City Paseo District, he allowed local artists to hang their work on his wall and share their poetic words on an intimate stage. "I saw the power of allowing young people the space and time to express themselves," states Medina. After he learned how cathartic the process was for the youth, Medina made it known that he wanted to find an opportunity to share his artistic knowledge and experience with the younger generation. A few years later, he received a call from a prominent art administrator and youth advocate searching for someone to teach art to youth struggling with adverse childhood experiences. Paul jumped at the chance and began teaching classes to use art to address their problems in a fun, creative, and therapeutic way. For nearly three decades, he's worked in schools and juvenile detention facilities and taught blind children about the art they couldn't see. "I went in and learned a lot from the kids, and the experience taught me much about my life," states Medina. Today he still teaches four art classes a week to local kids.
Medina's purposeful and exploratory artistic path has shaped a successful creative career and fulfilling life. His clear intention to use his creations to speak to shared similarities and experiences is why his work is in private collections worldwide. For example, notable author Judith Blume, late actor Robin Williams, and former French professional tennis player and singer Yannick Noah have purchased his affecting artwork. "It took me a while to get to where I am now, and I'm grateful for what I have, and I'm thrilled to be able to continue to do my work in a place where I stay connected to friends and family," states Medina. It is no surprise that his humble attitude and commitment to sharing his knowledge and creations have earned him the 2022 Paseo Lifetime Achievement Award from the community he's helped support. While the future may be uncertain, Paul is devoted to continuing his exploration of the human condition and pushing his creative limits with clay, wood, paint, and materials he's yet to discover.
Please visit the Objets Trouvés website to learn more about Paul Medina and view his paintings available for purchase.
