Stepping away from corporate life for a night of creative expression at the “After Work” Art Show
The "After Work" Art Show at Hotel No Vacancy highlights the journey of four local artists reclaiming their passion
Photo Courtesy of Galina Pikheeva
Four artists will escape their corporate personas for one night and display their passion for art at the “After Work” Art Show this Friday. Organized by Nam Nguyen, this show will also feature Galina Pikheeva, Shayna Strahm, and Zeuz, debuting the new event space at Hotel No Vacancy, The Lobby. Having previously set aside their artistic dreams for a stable career, these artists show their journey back to their true passion through their art.
Photo Courtesy of Galina Pikheeva
Nam Nguyen’s inspiration comes from his daydreaming that serves as both a way to escape from the present difficulties and explore all the possibilities of a subject. After pursuing an artistic degree, Nguyen now designs watches for his 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as an industrial designer, but from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., he makes time for free drawing and painting. Flowers and the female form also influence much of Nguyen’s art, as he will have three main paintings displayed at the “After Work” show.
Photo Courtesy of Galina Pikheeva
Galina Pikheeva shied away from her artistic passions in college and settled for a more secure career path in marketing. As the oldest child of an immigrant parent, she says she felt a pressure to meet expectations and uses much of the suppression and burning out that she has felt to fuel the vision of her collection, “Craving, Weakness, and Distractions.”
“I realized that I kept distracting myself and drowning my sadness for not pursuing art in different things, like my career, different substances, and relationships,” Pikheeva says. “I was able to render all of these feelings of loss, and I want my collection to inspire the viewers to see the narratives that they’re running through their lives. It’s about balancing our vulnerabilities and the things that distract us in our daily lives from what we really want to do.”
Photo Courtesy of Galina Pikheeva
In Shayna Strahm’s art, she explores masculinity and its influence within and outside of women, while working as a model. Inspired by R&B music, her art displays her current identity and the possibility of expression. The female form and animalistic symbolism are used to display a masculine energy from a feminine perspective.
Photo Courtesy of Galina Pikheeva
After leaving the constant demand of full-time content creation, Zeuz is now putting his effort into his art. Without a reference photo, he draws charcoal portraits displaying vulnerability and openness. He hopes his art inspires people to connect and encourages emotional expression.
These four local arts will not only display their art work at the event, but they will also join the after-party with DJ Casio McCombs. The No Vacancy space lends itself to the seriousness of the show while transitioning to nightlife.
“It matched my style, my vibe, even when it was still under construction,” Nguyen says. “It’s worked out perfectly, because, the owner, Spencer, is very accommodating when planning the after-party along with the art show, which was really hard for us to find with other spaces.”
Join them this Friday from 4 – 10 p.m. to celebrate creativity, passion, and the reclaiming of artistic dreams. The “After Work” Art Show promises to be an unforgettable evening of inspiration and connection. The art show is free and open to the public.
