Valerie Ostenak
Niwot, CO
Transformation and the Energy within . . . My art is about inviting the richness of Possibility to others' lives.
Message
Valerie Ostenak is an award-winning painter and sculptor who is deeply engaged in exploring the psychology of transformation and the energy of change through her art. Growing up in the Arizona desert, she developed a deep connection to water—both its life-giving power and its ability to reshape the world. Her vibrant abstract paintings featuring metal leaf, have been selected for public art programs: the New Mexico Art in Public Places and Rockefeller Center’s Flag Project. Ostenak has been published in art jewelry and blacksmithing books, interviewed by National Geographic, partnered with Rolls Royce Automotive, and participated in artist residencies in Italy and the UK. She has also taught metalsmithing workshops at universities and associations nationwide.
“My artwork seeks to inspire hope, change, enlightenment, a way to weather the storms and learn to swim within the chaos . . . to transform and find solace in the midst of chaos.”
Ostenak's design career of 30 years centered on publication design and production, as well as illustration, in the aerospace, textbook, magazine, and newspaper industries.
On a more personal note . . . Valerie loves motorcycles, gorgeous cars, sci-fi, and chooses her hotels based on the perfect swimming pool.
Statement
STATEMENT OF WORK:
As a multidisciplinary artist, I am investigating the psychology of transformation through the integration of painting and sculpture. My practice is grounded in an exploration of emotional and environmental shifts, utilizing layered textures and metal leaf to evoke organic movement and visual depth. The application of metal leaf creates a surface that captures light unpredictably, suggesting molten transformation and inviting contemplation of the fluid nature of change.
Rooted in a personal search for peace and contentment, my work draws on the natural world as a metaphor for emotional experience. The changing sky, the turbulence of weather, and the erosion of form all inform a visual language that reflects resilience, transition, and renewal. These themes are embedded within the physicality of the materials and the compositions themselves.
Each title functions as a journal prompt—guiding viewers toward self-inquiry—while the visual elements elicit emotional engagement. In this way, the work serves as a psychological vehicle, offering an accessible space for reflection on personal and collective transformation.
By blending visual disciplines and embracing material experimentation, I seek to contribute to new modes of artistic thinking—where emotional resonance, aesthetic exploration, and the possibility of change converge to inspire dialogue and action.
INSPIRATION
I am visually inspired by the rich colors of oceans, forests, and flowers; by the perfect curve in the shape of a wave; the winding tendrils of vines and how they connect to everything around them. I am intrigued by Space visually and metaphorically. Images from the Hubble telescope utilizing UV and IR filters show us billions of galaxies and richly colored nebulae. Though separated by incomprehensible distances, they are the light within the darkness.
For an exhibition record and list of publications, please see the CURRICULUM VITAE below.