Tracy Ostmann-Haschke
As a native of rural Missouri, Tracy’s artistic roots grew from a family of craftsmen and artisans. She is a seasoned interdisciplinary artist with a focus on painting. After receiving her B.F.A. in painting and drawing from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, Tracy attended The Art Institute of Chicago where she completed the Post Baccalaureate certificate program. In Chicago she completed her first private, public art project for the St. Louis Metro Link station, which she completed in 1993. During this time she began exhibiting her paintings and started a decorative arts service business called Studi-O (now TOHArts). She completed projects for The John G. Shedd Aquarium, The University of Pennsylvania, Jelly Belly Candy Co., Warner Brothers, The Cliff-dweller’s Club, Art and Soul restaurant-Washington D.C., The Garfield Park Conservatory, Kribi Coffee, and Ralph Lauren. She has received a Chicago Arts Assistance Program grant award. She currently exhibits her work at Alma Arts and Interiors in Bridgeport (Chicago). In 2017 she completed a tree for Chicago Sculpture International and The Chicago Tree Project. Her paintings are representational and most associated with representing an every-day genre, from exploring the mundane aspects of daily life to the extraordinary events that we all can identify with. Her work is collected by private collectors nationally and internationally in corporate and public spaces. Tracy lives and works in Chicago’s E. Garfield park neighborhood in the Carroll Avenue Arts District with her husband and two children.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
My work is often representational, a cast of characters pronounced through a style that borders on realism, abstract, and impressionism. A visual narrative unfolds, revealing events or moments of happenstance which might characterize various roles of human existence. Dicey and endurance coalesce with clouded psychology noting the possibility of a deeper explanation. I find inspiration from my surroundings of people and nature. Transpired through my search for movement, gesture, and expression, these emerging characters become substantial throughout my process. My imagery appears through rough sketches offering composition solutions that evolve while drawing with thin layers of paint. I am documenting recollected moments that in turn happen to parallel a provoked, yet unexplained emotion.
I work in oils, acrylics, and drawing materials; charcoal and graphite. Thin layers of color are overlapped, paint is drawn and sketched vigorously across and up and down as I manipulate the images I see coming through the paint. I dive right in, the next mark steering my next decision. Only sometimes does my work require rough compositional sketches and at times photo references. A large mirror is an essential tool throughout my process, allowing me to reference my own features when working with the figure.
As a native of rural Missouri, Tracy’s artistic roots grew from a family of craftsmen and artisans. She is a seasoned interdisciplinary artist with a focus on painting. After receiving her B.F.A. in painting and drawing from Webster University in St. Louis, Missouri, Tracy attended The Art Institute of Chicago where she completed the Post Baccalaureate certificate program. In Chicago she completed her first private, public art project for the St. Louis Metro Link station, which she completed in 1993. During this time she began exhibiting her paintings and started a decorative arts service business called Studi-O (now TOHArts). She completed projects for The John G. Shedd Aquarium, The University of Pennsylvania, Jelly Belly Candy Co., Warner Brothers, The Cliff-dweller’s Club, Art and Soul restaurant-Washington D.C., The Garfield Park Conservatory, Kribi Coffee, and Ralph Lauren. She has received a Chicago Arts Assistance Program grant award. She currently exhibits her work at Alma Arts and Interiors in Bridgeport (Chicago). In 2017 she completed a tree for Chicago Sculpture International and The Chicago Tree Project. Her paintings are representational and most associated with representing an every-day genre, from exploring the mundane aspects of daily life to the extraordinary events that we all can identify with. Her work is collected by private collectors nationally and internationally in corporate and public spaces. Tracy lives and works in Chicago’s E. Garfield park neighborhood in the Carroll Avenue Arts District with her husband and two children.
ARTIST’S STATEMENT
My work is often representational, a cast of characters pronounced through a style that borders on realism, abstract, and impressionism. A visual narrative unfolds, revealing events or moments of happenstance which might characterize various roles of human existence. Dicey and endurance coalesce with clouded psychology noting the possibility of a deeper explanation. I find inspiration from my surroundings of people and nature. Transpired through my search for movement, gesture, and expression, these emerging characters become substantial throughout my process. My imagery appears through rough sketches offering composition solutions that evolve while drawing with thin layers of paint. I am documenting recollected moments that in turn happen to parallel a provoked, yet unexplained emotion.
I work in oils, acrylics, and drawing materials; charcoal and graphite. Thin layers of color are overlapped, paint is drawn and sketched vigorously across and up and down as I manipulate the images I see coming through the paint. I dive right in, the next mark steering my next decision. Only sometimes does my work require rough compositional sketches and at times photo references. A large mirror is an essential tool throughout my process, allowing me to reference my own features when working with the figure.
$5,545.00
Oil and charcoal on canvas.
48x48"
To pause is an oil painting depicting a mid-motion figure seated in the lower corner. A combination of drawing and painting create a hazy atmosphere. 2016
$6,930.00
Oil on canvas.
36x60"
Myself and artist Michael Thompson collaborated on an exhibit we titled Sweet and Savory which took place in 2015 inside of Epic Spices spice shop in Chicago. We installed food themed works of art. Most of my pieces were 2D, including this painting of garlic.
$4,850.00
Oil on canvas.
38x32"
Zest! 2015, oil on canvas. I created Zest for a themed exhibit titled Sweet and Savory. Myself and artist Michael Thompson put this exhibit together inside Epic Spices spice shop in Chicago. Most of my pieces were 2D with an exception of an oversized stuffed ginger pillow and paper mache' red chili peppers.
$31,880.00
Oil on canvas.
84x108"
I created this painting in 2003. It's about my experiences with fellow artists friends and the dinner parties we would spontaneously put together. Everyone would bring something to share, or not. The meal wasn't what was important but rather the conversation and company. I'm seated at the head of the table with my two stray dogs by my side.
$4,160.00
Acrylic on canvas
20x32"
This piece is part of a collection of very large bird paintings titled Watching You Watching Me; an exhibit which opened at Alma Arts and Interiors in January of 2024.
$11,755.00
Acrylic on canvas
48x60"
This piece is part of a collection of very large bird paintings titled Watching You Watching Me; an exhibit which opened at Alma Arts and Interiors in January of 2024.
$10,370.00
Acrylic on canvas.
36x60"
The Herring Gull. This piece is part of a collection of very large bird paintings titled Watching You Watching Me; an exhibit which opened at Alma Arts and Interiors in January of 2024.
$11,755.00
Acrylic on canvas.
48x60"
Green Heron is a small heron of north and central America. They are one of few birds that are clever enough to use bugs as bait when fishing. This painting is part of a collection of very large bird paintings titled Watching You Watching Me; an exhibit which opened at Alma Arts and Interiors in January of 2024.
$14,520.00
Acrylic on canvas.
60x60"
The Blue Jay is part of the black bird family and is a fascinating bird to watch. This painting is part of a collection of very large bird paintings titled Watching You Watching Me; an exhibit which opened at Alma Arts and Interiors in January of 2024.
$10,370.00
Acrylic on canvas.
30x60"
Hey You! Flamingo Is part of a collection of large scaled bird paintings; Watching You Watching Me which was exhibited at Alma Arts and Interiors in Bridgeport, Chicago, IL in January 2024.