ALISO VIEJO – Nina Kolarek-Cullen is used to having her work seen by many people.
The artist, who was born in Croatia, studied fashion design in Switzerland and London and worked in the industry in New York City. She eventually found a passion for painting after moving to Southern California.
Kolarek-Cullen’s paintings have been seen in galleries across the country, but never by so many people as now. The Aliso Viejo resident has eight paintings showing at John Wayne Airport through Monday.
The paintings are being shown through the airport’s Community Focus Space program, which features exhibitions by Orange County artists and organizations.
Since 1998, the Community Focus Space program has helped highlight local artists by showing their work at John Wayne. In 2003, the airport began showing a single artist’s work in solo-style exhibitions each month and has done so ever since.
In 17 years, John Wayne has had 101 art exhibits, airport officials said.
“It’s interesting because it’s a non-art-related venue,” Kolarek-Cullen said. “Yet I think it beautifies the place just having art there.”
Kolarek-Cullen applied a year and a half ago, and she said she was excited that people going in and out of the airport will have a chance to see her work.
Her oil paintings are inspired by “the kaleidoscope of colors found in nature – the vivid blue skies, turquoise oceans and majestic orange sunsets,” all of which apply to travel, she said.
“My oil paintings are an expression of how I see life and its vibrant energy,” Kolarek-Cullen said. “I developed my own method through a technique of applying thick layers of paint, texture and design, which allows me the freedom to explore a variety of abstract expressions.”
The airport is accepting applications for the next set of exhibitions beginning October 2016. Details are available at ocair.com/terminal/artexhibits, and the deadline for submissions is 4 p.m. Wednesday.
With her exhibition just about complete, Kolarek-Cullen wonders just how many travelers at John Wayne have taken time to view her paintings.
“Thousands and thousands of people go through there a day,” Kolarek-Cullen said. “But how many will stop and look? I don’t know. It’s just exciting to think that they all might.”
Contact the writer: 949-667-1933, cyee@ocregister.com and on Twitter: @ChrisMYee
