Video: Skiatook gallery showcases 15-year-old girl's artwork

SKIATOOK, Okla. — A gallery in Skiatook is showcasing the artwork of a 15-year-old girl, hoping to inspire more young people to pick up a paint brush.

Alayna Nevaeh’s work is on the walls at the Skiatook Arts Center alongside the work of professional artists.

The teenager is from Berryhill, Okla. and told FOX23 the idea of her art being displayed made her nervous at first.

“I was really nervous because I look around, and there’s a lot of other good paintings,” Nevaeh said. “I didn’t think mine would be as good, but I’m happy that they’re up here with the other artists.”

She said she’s been painting with oils since she was 11-years-old.

Lauren McKuin is the curator of the Skiatook Art Center, and she told FOX23 she was impressed with Nevaeh’s work as soon as she saw it.

“I saw the work, and I was like ‘Oh my God, can you come in?’” McKuin recalled. “Because her stuff was incredible. I knew instantly that we had to get her in.”

Nevaeh already sold one of her paintings in the gallery for $275.

“Usually it’s just my family members that buy [my paintings] so I was really happy that other people would get to buy my paintings,” Nevaeh said.

McKuin said helping people through art is very important and she hopes Alayna’s story inspires other young artists.

“When I was in high school, I never would have dreamed of being able to do something like this. Being able to reach out to our young artists and the undiscovered I feel like is one of the biggest things that I can do to help them, to make sure they know that they don’t need to limit themselves because we are always our own worst critics,” McKuin said.

Nevaeh is also self taught and hasn’t received any formal training. McKuin said as a curator, she can’t wait to see how the young girl will grow as an artist.

She will also be doing a showcase of her artwork at the Skiatook Art Center in January. Nevaeh said she’s hoping to have around 20 paintings to present.

The Skiatook Arts Center is also having a grand reopening soon on July 2nd featuring artist Jeremy Arnold.

The curator also says she’s always looking for new artists in the gallery.

If you or anyone you know wants your art showcased in the gallery, you can reach out to the curator via email at Skiatookartscenter@gmail.com.

15-year-old, Alayna Nevaeh’s art work is showing at the Skiatook Arts Center.

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