Big Al’s Brewing is hosting an exhibit of local artist Devrim Ozkan’s paintings for the next month, and White Center residents will discover her art pairs quite nicely with craft beer.

Ozkan works largely in the mediums of monotyping and oil painting, though she’s accomplished in many other forms.  Her pieces pieces “tend to be surreal and/or abstract with strong influences from the arabesque pattern work found in middle eastern art.”  After completing her Bachelors in Fine Arts at UW, Ozkan took a break from her own artistic pursuits and poured herself into the promotion and curation of other artists’ works.  The hiatus proved “a fantastic way to figure out what kind of visual art [Ozkan] wanted to make and why.”

Ozkan has tremendous range as an artist.  Her oil paintings are bold and complex, equally engaging to the eye whether she chooses bright colors or works with muted tones.  Fluid lines and intricate patterns draw you in closer and closer until you have to step back to reassess just what it is you’re looking at.  Even then, you’ll likely be drawn right back in.  Her monoprints are equally arresting, a diverse array of abstractions that sometimes hint at scenes from the natural world.

“Creating is the most effective form of re-arranging my internal chaos,” Ozkan reflects.  “Manipulating paint and ink allows for a translation of my internal language and a much needed escape from the monotony of day to day life.”  As autumn sets in, White Center residents will find Ozkan’s work to be a wonderful escape as well.  Check out her work at Big Al’s for the next month.

More examples of Devrim’s art work can be viewed at www.devrimozkan.com.

WHAT: Art installation by local artist Devrim Ozkan.

WHEN: September 17 to October 17, Wednesdays and Thursdays 3 to 9 pm, Fridays and Saturdays 3 to 11 pm, Sundays 12 to 5 pm.

WHERE: Big Al’s Brewing, 9832 14th Ave SW, Seattle, 98106.

INFO: Check out the artist’s website at www.devrimozkan.com, or call Big Al’s at (206) 453-4487.