About
Wes Coke (b. 1978) is a figurative oil painter based in Fort Worth, Texas, where he lives with his wife and daughter. He grew up in the Dallas–Fort Worth area and studied bronze sculpture at the University of North Texas, finishing in 2003. Though his formal education emphasized three-dimensional work, his artistic journey took a transformative turn when he began painting in 2020.
Coke has been working professionally as a commissioned artist since 2018, initially producing sculptures and other creative work for private clients. His shift to painting marked a significant evolution in his practice, allowing him to explore the emotional depth and complexity of the human form through a different medium. His paintings are primarily figurative, often capturing intimate, contemplative moments or expressive gestures that reflect a range of human experiences. Some pieces lean toward realism; others are more loose and expressive. He’s not afraid to experiment or let the mood of a piece decide where it goes. Whether he’s painting a portrait or exploring something more abstract, the goal is always the same: to capture something honest, human, and real.
Artist Statement
My oil paintings explore the quiet moments that often go unnoticed while they are happening. Using the human figure as a starting point, I’m interested in capturing feelings of presence, memory, and the subtle emotional weight of everyday life. I try to create scenes that feel both familiar and open-ended, inviting viewers to bring their own experiences to the work.
Ultimately, my paintings are an attempt to hold onto fleeting moments and the realization that some of the most meaningful parts of our lives are often recognized only in hindsight.
Awards
2024 Sam and Priscilla McCall Award- Preservation is the Art of the City presented by Historic Fort Worth
2024 Top Prize- Onderdonk Purchase Award- San Antonio Art League and Musuem
2023 Thistlethwaite Family Award- Preservation is the Art of the City presented by Historic Fort Worth
Curriculum Vitae
2026
TEN- Fort Works Art33rd Annual New Texas Talent Exhibition- Craighead Green Gallery CAL International 2026- Conroe Art League 2025
Preservation is the Art of the City- Historic Fort WorthLaid Bare- solo show- Daisha Board Gallery 32nd Annual New Texas Talent Exhibition- Craighead Green Gallery Marfa Invitational OpenCome As You Are- Create Texas2024
Fresh Ideas- Visual Art League of LewisvilleFall Gallery Night- Briggs Freeman-Sotheby’sPreservation is the Art of the City- Historic Fort Worth18th Annual Texas Artists Coalition Juried Exhibition- Arts Fort Worth31st Annual New Texas Talent Exhibition- Craighead Green GalleryYee-Haw- Group show- RTown GallerySpring Gallery Night- Briggs Freeman-Sotheby’sArt214 Biennial Juried Exhibition- Oak Cliff Cultural CenterArt 214 Biennial Juried Exhibition- Moody Performance Hall Grapevine Contemporary- RTown Gallery94th Annual Juried Exhibition- San Antonio Arts League & Museum2023
30th Annual New Texas Talent Exhibition- Craighead Green Gallery17th Annual Texas Artists Coalition Juried Exhibition- Arts Fort WorthContemporary Now- Art Room Preservation is the Art of the City- Historic Fort WorthFall Gallery Night- Briggs Freeman-Sotheby’sRio Brazos Art Exhibition- Stephen F Austin University The Lone Star Sings: Portraits of Texas Musicians- Create Arlington 2022
9th Annual Texas Juried Exhibition- Artspace 111 The Art of Living- Briggs Freeman-Sotheby’sGroup Show- Catalyst Creative Arts2021
Juxtapositions, Dichotomies and Oxymorons, Oh My!- Studio Arthouse Gallery Pigments of Your Imagination- Studio Arthouse Gallery Keller’s Got Talent- City of Keller