We were lucky to catch up with Oreen Cohen recently and have shared our conversation below.

Oreen, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. What’s been the most meaningful project you’ve worked on?

Emotion drives my work—the rawness is encapsulated in the materials, textures, and labored marks. No matter the material or method, from large-scale welded metal sculpture in public art and sculpture to painting, drawing, and performance, each manic gesture is meaningful. A lot of Jewish symbolism is contained in my work- or sayings my mother says to me in hebrew are translated into installations and drawings. Recently, I have been investigating Jewish Demonology in the Talmud, a very interesting journey I have been interpreting through drawing and painting.

Art, for me, is a deeply personal journey of self-discovery and exploration of the material. It’s about delving into the apprehension of making a mark, often aggressively using my entire body toward the substrate. These moments are deeply personal as I delve into dark palettes and heavy metal. Subconscious mythologies emerge as illustrations in black-and-white large-scale charcoal drawings. These drawings serve as the foundation for other processes, such as found object sculpture, stained glass illustrations, large-scale paintings, and public artworks. Each body of work or project is a testament to an emotional journey and the depth of my artistic process.

Becoming a mother has demanded more attention inward; I have refocused on my studio practice rather than public art. Both public and personal ways of working are political; however, in the studio, the weight of creative responsibility shifts, and the meaningfulness I seek now is the authenticity in the truth of my expression, in whichever means I see fit. In the past year, I have made over 125 paintings, from large-scale paintings to small 8″x8″ on canvas, which all combine my drawing and painting practice. A play with chemical combinations, paint textures, organic matter (palm fibers, needles, leaves, twigs) stains, paper, wax, charcoal, pastel, graphite, marble dust, powders, and grit, with layers of sheen and matte- they are re-iterations of the body in pain, in decay and transformation.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

Oreen Cohen is a first-generation Israeli-Moroccan artist living and working in Pittsburgh, PA. I primarily fabricate welded sculptures for commission in public and private works; however, I have recently focused more on drawing and painting. I also work at Radiant Hall Studios as the Program Manager and Studio Director- servicing over 100 artists across the Pittsburgh Region by implementing Group Critiques, Exhibition Programs, and organizational partnerships. From my programming and public art experiences, I am also a consultant for individual artists, non-profits, and public arts-focused community initiatives. I am a Rolodex of artists’ resources- which I enthusiastically share as I enjoy helping artists get over a hump and find new approaches and methods to making.

I received my MFA from Carnegie Mellon University (2014) and BFA from the University at Buffalo (2008). From 2008-2011, I went on artist residencies nationally, building my portfolio and experience. Working in sculptural metalwork, drawing, and installation, I have developed large-scale public and private commissions in curious locations. Curatorial projects include: “When Artists Enter the Factory” at the Brooklyn Army Terminal, FIGMENT Sculpture Project (Governors Island, NYC), Flint Public Art Project (Flint, MI), and CerCCa Casamarles in Catalonia, Spain. She has been the recipient of Investing in Professional Artists grant from The Pittsburgh Foundation and the Heinz Endowments and a New York Foundation for the Arts Grant. Cohen has had solo exhibitions at 707 Gallery, Pittsburgh, PA, Bunker Projects, and Transformer Gallery Washington, DC. Oreen has just completed a residency at the Joan Mitchell Center in New Orleans in Fall 2023 with new energy in their studio practice to combine drawing, painting glass, and metal fabrication processes. An upcoming special project with the Rauh Jewish History Program & Archives in Fall 2024. Follow the process at www.oreencohen.com or on instagram @oco.art

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Since around 2017- 2021 my luck has shifted, and my then-partner and. I had faced a biblical hellscape. From being flooded out of RV living, massive fires in our warehouse caused by other tenants- where we lost all of our equipment, More floods- insurance dealings, and a baby on the way. During these events, I had commitments to large public art projects with the City of Pittsburgh, I had just started a public art business with a friend. I had both sides of the coin- immensely humbled by loss but grateful for the lessons. Last summer, completing my last project of the year- I had my 2nd emergency spinal surgery- this time in the cervical (neck), which has now greatly reduced my opportunities for work and physicality from its reverberating effects. But I persisted. I completed every committed project, even while pregnant- my partner had been by my side the entire time and helped with the fabrication, for which I am forever grateful. Now my daughter is 3- I am a single parent- and continue to work in any way I can. In November 2024, I went on a residency at the Joan Mitchell Foundation in New Orleans- for two months of complete solitude and the most incredible studio space and support- I could invest fully into myself, my process, and my new direction.

How about pivoting – can you share the story of a time you’ve had to pivot?

My work in the public space over the past 15 years has been a transformative journey. In April 2023, I closed my business. It’s a journey driven by a dual motivation: to create a space of wonder in public space and to advocate for accessible art. Working as a public artist has been a means to break down the artist process through education and engagement, as well as offering a challenge to my practice that uses unconventional methods. Public art, to me, is a process that requires careful calculation, from community engagement to fabrication. When I work in public spaces, I strive to capture the essence of the place and the people who built it- its history and its future. Creating meaningful projects in public art is like constructing a dream architecture, a home built from internal and external references of what a home is, or past lived-in homes. And in the experience of this home (or artwork), a comforting familiarity makes one feel like they belong. To do so, a meal – in this metaphorical home, needs to be cooked together to serve hearty, meaningful public art. Right now, I need to be the only chef, with my unconventional ingredients.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.Oreencohen.com
• Instagram: Oco.art
• Other: https://jewishchronicle.timesofisrael.com/getting-to-know-oreen-cohen/