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The Unexpected
Bringing urban and contemporary art to Arkansas.
Bicicleta Sem Frieo // 2023
Jason Jones // 2023
Hoxxoh // 2021
Ben Eine // 2021
“We wanted to do something to celebrate the arts, support artists, and create some excitement in our communities during this incredibly challenging time. We love that murals bring art to everyone, and we hope that these projects will inspire, spark conversation, and promote civic unity.” ~Olivia Walton
ARkanvas is 13 artworks by 12 artists under 1 theme (Unite), spread across 450 miles and includes 11 paintings, 1 billboard, 1 vinyl, the hard work of 112 artists, assistants, painters, crew, and volunteers, 400+ cans of spray paint, 1500 gallons of paint, 47,210+ square feet of painted surfaces. Visit ozartnwa.com/arkanvas/ for pictures and more information.
The 5th edition of The Unexpected featured the return of Fort Smith favorite Okuda San Miguel, new comers Camille Walala, Hilda Palafox, Robert Montgomery, and Fort Smith native, Amos Cochran with an immersive light and sound installation. Joining the lineup is Alexandre Bavard and the U.S. premier of his interpretive performance Bulky in partnership with Western Arkansas Ballet. The Unexpected closed out the event with special guest speakers Jia Jiang, Pia Agrawal and Alexandre Bavard, and 14 bands across nine venues along Garrison Avenue. 2019 Logo designed by Pref. In May, we had a special opportunity to collaborate with Bentonville Film Festival for a Fort Smith film screening alongside a pop up mural activation by Mantra.
Okuda San Miguel // Rainbow Embassy 2019
Robert Montgomery // Mine Love 2019
Camille Walala // Walala Pump & Go 2019
Alexandre Bavard // 2019
Hilda Palafox // 2019
The Unexpected returns for a 4th year bringing The Outlier Festival with it for a week-long celebration of art, music, speakers and activities for kids and adults alike. Joining for the week is master muralist Alexis Diaz, British graffiti artist Pref, Chicago artist Cody Hudson, tile pattern painter Add Fuel, Native American artist and muralist Yatika Fields, hometown favorite Ana Maria and local muralist and artist Buffalo. The Unexpected closed out the weekend with an art talk panel lead by curator Charlotte Dutoit, a keynote by Google's top-rated futurist Thomas Frey, and a record 22 bands playing for two nights in downtown Fort Smith venues along Garrison Avenue. 2018 Logo designed by Bicicleta Sem Frieo.
Alexis Diaz // 2018
Pref // Side by Side 2018
Pref // The Very Best 2018
Cody Hudson // 2018
Mantra for Bentonville Film Festival // 2019
Ana Maria // 2018
Add Fuel // Native 2018
Nate Myers aka Buffalo // 2018
Yatika Fields // Solo Show Native Voice 2018
Year three of The Unexpected returns to downtown Fort Smith with ambitious projects bringing attention and awareness to some of the community's most important spaces - including a massive takeover of the abandoned historic New Theatre by legendary Doze Green and an important and uplifting activation inside the Sebastian Co. Juvenile Detention Center. Partnering the same week with annual music festival Peacemaker brought an opportunity for both events to introduce new artists and audiences to each other. 2017 Logo designed by Derek Maxey Neon.
Doze Green // Divine Spark Project 2017
AEC Interesni Kazki // Crossover 2017
Saner // Crossover 2017
Circus Family // Tryph 2017
Felipe Pantone // Skate Park 2017
Lakwena // Still I Rise 2017
Crystal Wagner // Lithotroph 2017
2016 marks the triumphant return of The Unexpected bringing a roster of new artists, including Guido Van Helten who created a massive tryptich at the epic OK Foods silos, as well as returning favorites D*Face and Maser. Downtown Fort Smith increased it's outdoor gallery with 10 new artworks including Bordalo II's trash art, bringing much needed awareness to our society of waste. Alexis Diaz created a surprise pop up mural in Fayetteville.
Bordalo II // Opossum 2016
Bordalo II // Fox 2016
Cyrcle //Before the Rain 2016
Faith 47 // Royal Spirits 2016
D*Face // War Paint 2016
D*Face // Arrows 2016
Okuda San Miguel // Universal Chapel 2016
Maser // Argon 2016
Alexis Diaz // 2016
Guido Van Helten // American Heroes 2016
Pastel // Empty 2016
The Unexpected descended on downtown Fort Smith for the first time, bringing a trope of world class urban and contemporary artists with it. Internationally recognized as some of the best in the scene, Vhils, D*Face, Roa, Ana Maria, Askew, Maser and Bicicleta Sem Freio kicked off The Unexpected and Fort Smith was never the same. The week opened with a never before seen retrospective print show at UAFS Windgate Art & Design Gallery.
Bicicleta Sem Frieo x Maser // 2015
Bicicleta Sem Freio // Catira 2015
Maser // Darby's Rangers 2015
Askew One //Cherokee 2015
Ana Maria // 2015
Ana Maria // War Birds 2015 & 2016
Roa // Mole 2015
Roa // Otter 2015
Vhils // 2015
D*Face // 2015
D*Face // Badlands 2015
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