An artist died without widespread recognition. His daughter wants to change that
OKLAHOMA CITY — O. Gail Poole was a prolific artist. But like his artistic hero, Vincent Van Gogh, Poole died in relative artistic obscurity. The Oklahoma City-based artist was known and beloved in his community art circles, but he was not well known to the public. Also like Van Gogh, a family member now fights to right that wrong.
The majority of her father's artwork have been in storage, Poole said. "That kills me," she said. "For a long time, I wasn't selling them. I wasn't letting them go, but now it hurts more to keep them in the dark than it does to let them go."
The word "prolific" may not suffice. Poole's hundreds of paintings included portraiture in the style of the Dutch Masters, and landscapes that would be at home in any museum. He painted still lifes, made mystical and abstract sculptures and sketches, and of course, works in the style of Van Gogh.
OETA spoke with Nicole who admittedly knew very little about the art world, but suddenly inherited the responsibility for a creative legacy.
This report originally appeared on OETA's "Gallery America."
Support Canvas
Sustain our coverage of culture, arts and literature.
Virgil Abloh was a boundary-breaking designer who made streetwear luxurious and luxury feel accessible. Abloh was the first Black artistic…
Michael Madsen, whose menacing characters in “Reservoir Dogs” and “Kill Bill” made him a standout in Quentin Tarantino’s films, has…
Sean “Diddy" Combs was acquitted of sex trafficking and racketeering charges, but found guilty of prostitution offenses. The mixed verdict…
Colum McCann's Narrative 4 organization is bringing the power of story to students in a time of division. The project…
Growing up in South Africa, internationally celebrated opera singer Pretty Yende hadn’t even heard of opera until she was almost…
U.S. District Judge Vince Chhabria found that 13 authors who sued Meta “made the wrong arguments.” But the judge also…
The untitled film will be the first since Amazon MGM Studios took creative reins of the storied film franchise after…
Arthur Sze, one of the most acclaimed poets of our time, is celebrated for exploring the natural world, the human…
Researchers believe it was a gunboat built in 1775 to defend Philadelphia. They don't know all the places the boat…
BTS is expected to reunite later this year. The K-pop group routinely breaks records and are credited for bringing the…
Unless you’re a longtime jazz aficionado, you might only know the names and music of a handful of stars and…
Comedian and illustrator Mo Welch has built a career blending sharp humor with emotional honesty. Her recent special, "Dad Jokes,"…
A new biography, "Marsha: The Joy and Defiance of Marsha P. Johnson," tells the story of the Black transgender pioneer’s…
A week ago, 11 of the 12 members of the board overseeing the prestigious Fulbright Program, which promotes international educational…
Cruise, choreographer Debbie Allen and “Do The Right Thing” production designer Wynn Thomas have all been selected to receive honorary…