Meet Patricia Obletz
Renowned artist and activist Patricia Obletz, from Buffalo, Manhattan, Chicago, now Milwaukee, studied life drawing and painting at Parsons School of Design and the Art Students League from 1964 to 1968 after dropping out of Lake Forest College 1961-64). At the League, she studied life drawing and painting with Vaclav Vytlacil.
Obletz' art is about color, energy, movement, texture, imagination and accident. Her subjects range from vast landscapes to horse worship to portraiture to abstracts. Her work is in public and private collections and gallery and museum exhibitions.
Unwilling to sell her art at the close of her four-year academic art training, Obletz learned to type. She assisted MGM creative director on 2001: A Space Odyssey; she received her BA from New York University 1968-69; she was staff writer for Seventeen, Modern Bride 1969-75.
In Chicago (1975-1987), Obletz was fashion/special events director for two retail chains, and copy supervisor for Helene Curtis.
Back in Buffalo, NY, (1988-04), Obletz became an activist for spiritual freedom through art in 1991. The artist in her returned two years later. She was recruited by NYS Office of Mental Health to establish a quarterly journal in 1992. She retired seven years later after a car accident. Her career as an artist began 20 years after her creative spirit was absorbed by the executive ranks.
Obletz was awarded a grant from Erie County Department of Mental Health to establish "Heart and Spirit Matter" at a professional art gallery in 2001. This month-long event of fine art and community leader and celebrity autographed doodles included panel discussions by experts on art and spiritual wellness at political, personal and professional levels, each followed by workshops every Saturday in February 2002-2006.
In Milwaukee (2004 to present), Obletz won a 2007 grant with Walker's Point Center for Arts to facilitate her "Colorplay" workshop with Milwaukee Public School students. That year she also launched her mental health awareness campaign bus signs and began writing on art and mental health for Washington Park Beat. In2008, Obletz won a Wisconsin Arts Board/National Endowment for the Arts Community Partnership Grant with Transitional Living Services clients to create "Colors of Self" traveling mural. Also in 2008, Obletz organized and hosted a panel of experts to discuss art and peace of mind for "Creative Forces TV," sponsored and produced by Milwaukee Access Telecommunications Authority.
On Milwaukee Renaissance Obletz blogs on topics including current events, health and art. Find her blogs under the category Getting to Justice.
Obletz’ website is at https://www.oilsbyobletz.page/ Email her at patriciaobletz@gmail.com