BIOGRAPHY

Doug Bauer is a Tulsa-based painter whose bold abstractions burst with color, rhythm, and emotional truth. A mostly self-taught artist influenced by Hans Hofmann, Richard Diebenkorn, and Willem de Kooning, Bauer took up painting in 1999 after a previous career in acting, during which he appeared in film and TV alongside well-known performers. His work, now represented by 1515 Lincoln Gallery, examines the “push and pull” of color and texture, drawing viewers into a personal journey of energy, depth, and connection.

ARTIST INSIGHTS

How are your background and life experiences connected to your art?

I have always been involved in creative pursuits.  I joined the Screen Actors Guild in 1990 when I was a guest star on Quantum Leap with Scott Bakula and Dean Stockwell.  I have accumulated several acting credits over the years, including getting to work with academy award winner Wes Studi in The Dome of Heaven in which I played one of the leads.  I also acted in The Lamp starring Louis Gossett, Jr.  In 1999 I decided I would try my hand at painting.  The experience was electric – I instantly was hooked.  I am drawn to the immediacy of painting - the physical act of the painting process is both spontaneous and emotional for me.

Who are some of your biggest artistic influences?

I have been influenced and inspired by the works of Hans Hofmann, Richard Diebenkorn, John Grillo and Willem de Kooning.

How have you developed your artist career?

I put my heart and soul into every painting I create and over time I have developed a following.  I continue to create work in a quest for truth and beauty in this life.

What does your artistic work intend to communicate to its audience?

I am not intending to communicate to my audience, rather I am putting everything that I am feeling and experiencing into these paintings and allowing the audience to find their own pathway and connection into my artistic work.

Does your work comment on any current social or political issues?

I don’t believe that my work is commenting on any current social or political issues other than to say that it is my hope that my work will bring joy and peace to others amidst the current social and political issues.

Do you have a particular story that stands out from your career as an artist?

I recently had a collector tell me that she will “fall into” my painting every morning as she sits down in front of the painting with a cup of coffee.  Her connection to the painting is deeply gratifying to me.

What is one thing you would like your audience to know about you?

I do not paint to show off – I paint to show myself.

Which current art world trends are you following?

At this time, I am focused on my own work, and while I am aware of art world trends, the one thing I will always be drawn to and follow is painterly abstraction.

Why have you chosen to sell your work in the 1515 Lincoln Gallery?

One of my artistic goals was to get into a top-notch gallery in Oklahoma City, and 1515 Lincoln Gallery stood out to me.  I am thrilled that 1515 Lincoln Gallery is representing my work.  Situated in a historic building, the gallery provides an intimate setting for the art to shine.   Susan and her team are uniquely qualified to match the artist’s work with collectors of art.

ARTIST STATEMENT

Painting allows me to move into a world beyond words.  The world within and around me is revealed through the exploration of color, texture, and form.  I love using the “push and pull” of warm advancing colors and cool receding colors to create rhythm, depth, and movement in my work.  Every painting that I create is a record of my journey through this life.  I hope that the viewer can find their own pathway and connection into the world created on the canvas surface. My artistic intention is to create paintings that allow for emotional depth while allowing for personal interpretation.

 Doug Bauer’S AVAILABLE ART

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