Newport News artist Gloria Coker’s fluid and vibrant acrylic paintings will be on view at the Sandler Center Art Gallery from Dec. 2 through March 1.
Coker was an illustrator for the Daily Press for 12 years before pursuing her career as a fine artist. While at the Daily Press, her work included illustrating news and feature stories, as well as courtroom art that appeared in print and on television.
She seeks to capture in paint her feelings about people as they pursue their passions. She is noted for her vivid acrylics depicting dancers and musicians as they engage in their own fine art. Coker has exhibited in numerous solo shows and she enjoys teaching art classes and workshops locally at the Peninsula Fine Art Center and regionally at the University of Virginia. Her artwork can be seen in galleries through the commonwealth, as well as in California, North Carolina and Montreal.
Coker’s art has been exhibited for many years in conjunction with the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO), a resident company of the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts. She completed a series depicting the VSO with conductor JoAnn Falletta at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk.
“Gloria Coker's work is poetry, music and motion blended in a vibrant world of color that is breathtaking. Her art pulses with life and sound. It is like being at the center of a vortex of energy, momentum, and brilliance - swept into a dynamic landscape of visual splendor,” Falletta said.
In 2008, Coker was nominated for an ALLI award from the Cultural Alliance of Greater Hampton Roads, which honors regional arts and culture leaders. Her art is included in many private collections, including those of Ernie Els, JoAnn Falletta, Tom Clancy and the Daily Press. Although her academic background includes a BA in psychology and a master’s in counseling and guidance from the College of William and Mary, she concentrates on her art full time.
Gloria Coker’s fluid and vivid acrylics can be seen at the Sandler Center Art Gallery from Dec. 2 through March 1. The gallery is free and open to the public on Monday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., or during any performance at the Sandler Center. There will be an opening reception held on Friday, Dec. 9, from 6 to 8 p.m. celebrating the Sandler Center Art Gallery’s newest exhibition. The reception is free and open to the public and Coker will attend to speak about her artwork.
About the City of Virginia Beach’s Office of Cultural Affairs: The City of Virginia Beach Office of Cultural Affairs fosters an environment that encourages innovation and excellence within the Virginia Beach arts community. Cultural Affairs, along with the Virginia Beach Arts and Humanities Commission, funds programs and services that build community and transform lives by enhancing enjoyment, understanding and participation in the arts. For more information on the Office of Cultural Affairs, visit www.vbgov.com/arts.
For more information on the Sandler Center Art Gallery,visit www.sandlercenter.org/artgallery.
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