Previous Artwork:
Avenue of Art - Mid Pineapple
Venice Flamingos
A cute reinterpretation of a Venice Magazine cover of Flamingos. Flamingo sightings are always an exciting occasion. The wading birds’ pink color (which comes from a diet heavy on shrimp) can’t help but grab your attention. Then there’s the fact they are often poised comfortably on one leg for reasons ornithologists have not definitively determined. Their lively chatter will make you want to join right in. It seems appropriate that a group of flamingos is called a flamboyance.
Source image:
Artist
Anita Wexler
Anita Wexler is a dynamic mixed-media artist whose work bridges personal history, cultural identity, and spiritual exploration. Born and raised in a small rural town in Illinois, she grew up with limited access to traditional art materials, often turning to drawing and doodling as a form of emotional and creative expression. Her Native American heritage—particularly her Cherokee roots—deeply influences her artistic themes and symbolic choices. After graduating high school, Wexler served in the United States Navy, an experience that broadened her perspective and later informed her global artistic vision. She eventually settled in New York City, where she pursued formal art education, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts from Parsons School of Design and an Art Education certification from Bank Street College. She later obtained a Master of Education from National Louis University.
Wexler’s work is defined by her bold use of color, symbolic layering, and eclectic fusion of materials and styles. Often described as Primitive Pop Art, her art spans painting, illustration, assemblage, and sculpture. Her creative process is intensely personal and often spiritual, with recurring themes of transformation, identity, and inner discovery. World travel plays a key role in her inspiration, with artistic influences drawn from her journeys through India, Southeast Asia, Mexico, and Europe. Among her notable series is the “Totem Series,” a body of work that reinterprets traditional Native American totems through a modern, mixed-media lens.
Beyond her studio practice, Wexler is also an accomplished art educator, having taught high school art in Sarasota, Florida. She believes strongly in the power of art as a tool for personal growth and cultural dialogue. Her work has been exhibited nationally and internationally and is included in private collections, including those of notable figures like actress Jane Seymour and artist William Wegman. She has also made appearances on HGTV programs such as Isn’t That Clever and Crafters Coast to Coast. Through her art and teaching, Anita Wexler continues to explore the intersection of memory, culture, and creativity, inviting viewers into a richly layered and emotionally resonant world.
www.anitawexler.com & Instagram: @artbyanitawexler
Written By
Nanette Crist
Nanette Crist is a retired lawyer who began blogging when she moved to Florida. It was an online diary of sorts, a way to keep track of her new life. It was also a good way to share her discoveries with friends and family outside the area. Over time, Nanette realized her writing makes her experience the world differently. She keeps an eye out for interesting things to write about and then delves more deeply into them as she crafts her words. It's all about telling the story. Nanette's blog can be found at http://nanettesnewlife.blogspot.com.