Eye Curious Atelier owner Kenoka Wagner cuts the ribbon at the Souderton art gallery’s grand opening celebration Thursday afternoon. Photo by John Worthington | The Reporter.
Located at 9 N. Main Street, the art workshop and gallery is owned by Kenoka Wagner, a lifelong artist of Perkasie.
Eye Curious Atelier celebrated its grand opening Thursday, Sept. 19 with a ribbon-cutting ceremony.
Located at 9 N. Main Street, the art workshop and gallery is owned by Kenoka Wagner, a lifelong artist of Perkasie.
Wagner previously owned a larger gallery in Ottsville where he showcased the work of over 100 local artists and held regular shows. But following the COVID-19 pandemic, he decided to relocate to a smaller venue.
“I realized that I was working too hard, and I was doing more paperwork than artwork,” said Wagner. “So this is me bringing it in, downsizing, simplifying my life; less paperwork, more art.”
Kenoka Wagner (right) speaks to attendees of his art gallery’s grand opening event.
Attendees enjoy food, wine and socializing at Eye Curious Atelier’s grand opening event.The son of an artist, Wagner said that art runs in his blood.
“I was born an artist,” said Wagner. “I have a picture of me and my father when I was 3-years-old painting next to him in a studio. I wouldn’t be an artist without him.”
Primarily self-taught, Wagner describes himself as an “exploratory artist,” prioritizing new techniques and mediums over the subject matter.
“If it comes easily, I get very bored. It has to be difficult, something that surprises even me,” said Wagner. “My favorite pieces are ones that I look at and say, ‘How the hell did I do that? That came out of me. I can’t believe that.’”
The gallery features dozens of Wagner’s pieces, who says that art runs in his blood.
Wagner describes himself as an “exploratory artist,” prioritizing new techniques and mediums over the subject matter.Eye Curious Atelier is a two-floor gallery, featuring dozens of Wagner’s pieces as well as his workspaces. He hopes the venue will enable him to share his techniques with the community and eventually display the work of other local artists.
“My jam is to really support the community and help people,” said Wagner. “I have no secrets. I want people to be able to take my techniques and mediums and do it themselves.”
He also expressed interest in teaching art, marveling at children’s artistic creativity.
“I love how kids approach artwork,” said Wagner. “I learn more from them because they’re so free and they don’t have preconceived ideas about how art is made.”
For now, Wagner is content in his new home, right in the heart of Souderton’s growing downtown.
“I’m very proud of what I accomplished in the other space in the middle of nowhere, but now I’m embraced by a town, I have a support system, there’s walking traffic,” said Wagner. “So hopefully this will be a good fit for me. I’m glad that I’m part of the revitalization movement.”
Eye Curious Atelier is open on Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, visit Kenoka Wagner’s Instagram account at Instagram.com/kenokawagner.
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