Joy Richardson Exhibition at BancFirst Tower Gallery

Available to view M-F, 7 AM – 7 PM, through October 30, 2026

Richardson is a self-described “colorist” whose paintings are built entirely from color and balance rather than recognizable subjects. She works in acrylic for its blending properties, finessing subtle transitions from one hue to the next with everything from the smallest brushes to wide bristles and palette knives, layering tones until each canvas hums. “I’m absolutely passionate about color,” Richardson says. “Dreams in vivid tones saturate my mind.”

Central to every composition is a sense of balance — symmetrical or asymmetrical — that she follows by instinct rather than rule, turning a canvas in all directions until its “color-weight-interest” reaches parity. She even signs her work up the right side as part of that equilibrium. Because no single object anchors the image, the paintings carry a timeless appeal, and viewers tend to describe them with mood adjectives: festive, mellow, energized, peaceful, jubilant, spiritual, or pensive.

An artist with deep Oklahoma City roots, Richardson grew up in the city and earned a BS in Fashion with a minor in Journalism from the University of Oklahoma. Her work continues to evolve through new textures, colors, and uses of space. “You’ll see energetic tones and texture intertwine against a serene backdrop,” she says, “often with a saucy jolt that leaves the viewer uplifted.”

The exhibition opens with an artist reception on Tuesday August 4th, from 5 – 7 pm, and remains on view through October 30, 2026.