Tom Chouteau
“My mission is to place kaleidoscopes and mirrored environments out in front of the public eye in the best way possible so that those who view them may have their lives enhanced and refreshed.”
Tom Chouteau is a native of Davenport, Iowa and has been creating kaleidoscopes for over 30 years. He has been the recipient of many awards, and has sold and displayed his work across the United States and internationally.
He has also led dozens of workshops on the subject of kaleidoscope creation. Tom has taught, people of all ages, how kaleidoscopes are put together, what makes them work, and the many varieties of mirror tunnels and images that can be created.
Whether it is teaching an after-school class in the Quad Cities, performing a demonstration at local organizations and clubs, or directing senior citizens and teen classes at area libraries, Tom is passionate about educating and sparking the imaginations in people of all ages through kaleidoscopes and other art mediums.
Matthew T. Chouteau
“I would like to encourage the idea that art can be what the ‘cool kids’ are doing, and to give people a glance into the different ways that you can communicate and interpret the world around you through art. Nobody else can see the world the same way that you see it, and that is perfectly fine.”
Matt is a native of Davenport, Iowa and has been surrounded and encouraged in pursuing art projects his entire life. Matt is just one branch of a wildly artistic family tree, which is a large part of why he decided to open Kaleidoscope Works Art Gallery & Gifts.
As he is still honing his individual style and experimenting with different techniques, his work seems to jump around sporadically in subject and medium, but yet there are somewhat underlying themes. He loves the outdoors and to travel, and these two things are what is the catalyst of his portfolio.
Pamela Bradner Ohnemus
“The natural landscape has always been a powerful focus of my work… Macro and microenvironments fill my paintings, engaging the viewer in their detail. Even while painting tranquil scenes, I achieve active color sensations by layering color over complementary underpaintings.”
Pamela was born in Ashcroft, British Columbia, Canada in 1958 and became a naturalized US citizen in 1999. She graduated from Marshalltown, IA High School in 1976, and received a BA from the University of Northern Iowa in Art Education in 1980. Pamela completed her MA from Western Illinois in 1999. She taught Art in the Davenport School District from 1980- 2013, and now teaches acrylic painting classes at the Figge Art Museum.
Trevor Prado
(The Abstract Astronaut)
“Whether it be mixed media or paint I strive to create a bond with my viewers by building connections through creativity.
The abstract astronaut grew from my own individual perceptions on people, life, and color, in my head I’m always on another planet.”
Originally from Iowa, Trevor studied at the Art Institute of Colorado and is currently living in Denver, CO. He has been finding his place in the Art World over the last 10+ years, and enjoys working with galleries, businesses and individuals to liven up any and all creative spaces.
Renelle White Buffalo
“I grew up in the open plains of South Dakota, and now I’m surrounded by the vertical landscape of New York City. Although, my environment has changed, the subject of my paintings remain deeply rooted in the multi-toned layers of the sacred Lakota culture.
I aim to tell fresh stories of the contemporary Native and contribute to the preservation of Lakota culture and language through abstracting the symbolism, stories, and memories.”
Originally born in South Dakota, Renelle received her BFA from Iowa State University in 2011 and currently lives and works in Hoboken, NJ (NYC area). She enjoys teaching and giving lectures to students, and has held residencies and been featured in numerous exhibitions around the country.