“When in Maine” by Sam Onche, 2024. Submitted photo
LA Arts will host an opening reception for “Homecoming,” the new gallery exhibition featuring the work of artist Sam Onche, from 5-8 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 27, at LA Arts in Lewiston, as part of LA Arts’ final Art Walk event of the season. The exhibit runs from Sept. 27-Dec. 20.
Onche aims to weave together various narratives that reflect his experiences, the need for movement, the beauty of place, his respect for Maine’s artists and community, and themes of empowerment through fashion, culture, and loss. The exhibit features thirteen paintings, each standing alone and telling its own unique story. His use of saturated colors in distinctive combinations is intended to portray people in their most beautiful light. His passion for fashion and the way people express themselves is also evident in his work.
Storytelling is central to Onche’s work. Now based in the Chicago area, his story started in Nigeria, where he grew up in a household that valued family and art. He has fond memories of drawing with siblings and friends, developing a competitive edge that applied to sports. Basketball brought him to the U.S. and led him to Colby College. He pursued oil painting there and continues to use this medium as well as digital drawing to share stories through Black art.
Since 1973, LA Arts, the arts agency for the cities of Lewiston and Auburn Maine, has pursued a mission to engage and inspire a vibrant community through arts and culture. The agency works with governments, businesses, schools, and local arts and cultural organizations to create opportunities for community members across the generations to experience, learn, and participate in the arts. LA Arts organizes arts programs and initiatives, supports the work of local artists and arts organizations, and highlights the essential role the arts play in shaping an economically vital, socially integrated, and forward-looking future for its community. Learn more at www.laarts.org.
LA Arts is located at 168 Lisbon St., Lewiston.
Send questions/comments to the editors.
We invite you to add your comments. We encourage a thoughtful exchange of ideas and information on this website. By joining the conversation, you are agreeing to our commenting policy and terms of use. More information is found on our FAQs. You can modify your screen name here.
Comments are managed by our staff during regular business hours Monday through Friday as well as limited hours on Saturday and Sunday. Comments held for moderation outside of those hours may take longer to approve.
Join the Conversation
Please sign into your Sun Journal account to participate in conversations below. If you do not have an account, you can register or subscribe. Questions? Please see our FAQs.