Painting her way forward: OSU alumna Jezek’s artistic journey

Painting her way forward: OSU alumna Jezek's artistic journey

Wednesday, September 10, 2025

Media Contact: Jeff Hopper | Communications and Media Relations Manager | 405-744-5827 | [email protected]

Blending bold colors with her redemption story, Oklahoma artist shares how her personal struggle shaped her as an artist, mother and woman.

Vibrant color and abstract characters aren't the only unique traits about Samantha Jezek's artwork. This Tulsa-based artist uses her talent to inspire and encourage women with every collection she creates.

Graduating from Oklahoma State University has also played a major role in Jezek's creativity and passion for art.

"When I came to OSU and entered the art program, everything was at my fingertips," she said. "They had opportunities everywhere: study abroad, painting, sculpture, drawing. Even the art history teachers were great about talking to me and telling me what opportunities were out there."

Jezek is from Thomas, Oklahoma, where creativity had limited room to discover or be explored. Her decision to study at OSU expanded her horizons and fostered her gift as an artist.

"I had two professors I really loved, Liz Roth and Angie Peel," she said. "They helped me navigate as I started falling in love with painting, even though I'd never picked up a paintbrush before."

Like many students who go through the OSU art program, Jezek was pushed to her fullest potential artistically.

"I'm now well known for the colors I use and how vibrant they are, and I give a lot of credit to those professors for drilling into us how to see color in everything, even shadows," she said.

Many of Jezek's pieces feature strong feminine characters and always include loud colors and an eye-catching composition. Her creative process allows flexibility when she envisions a piece she's crafting.

"I have a lot of artistic freedom during the process. As I'm painting, I'll change things, add darker colors, different shapes or adjust the mood of the girls I'm painting," she said.

Jezek's paintings feature prominent women who are vibrant and exude confidence, much like her persona as an artist. However, she didn't always resemble the bold women in her art.

Jezek was a junior at OSU when she started painting live with bands around Stillwater.

"I love music so much, so doing the two things I loved at once was amazing," she said.

Unfortunately, she began opening doors that were significantly harder to close.

"I went down a hole of after-parties and experimented with drugs and alcohol," she said. "I became completely dependent. It was scary. I'm thankful for my family and friends who told me to wake up, even though it took a long time to actually do so."

After spending the next few years in an addiction recovery program, Jezek began to recognize herself again.

"Painting through triggers was really hard, but I kept pushing through. I started painting these girls that made me feel bold, vibrant and beautiful, and it began to change me inside," she said.

She now uses her artwork to convey the importance of self-love to the people who view it, in hopes that they, too, feel lifted by its message.

"I could relate to these girls as I was overcoming addiction and walking through recovery," she said. "Picking up a paintbrush slowly healed me, made me feel more confident, less ashamed and more bold. Art has evolved with me and made me stronger."

Soon after gaining an audience through her art and the recovery message behind them, she released her "Not Alone" collection. Unlike her paintings with bold, feminine faces, this collection featured their figures. Each painting has a different collection of colors as she wanted to signify unity in diversity through them.

"The message was that you're not alone. We all go through struggles, breakups, addiction, divorce, anything, and we can come together in unity and support," she said. "The colors represent each story and how, even though they're different, they come together to make something beautiful."

Jezek's talent and passion are evident in the paintings she creates, but her motivation and love go much deeper. These collections reflect the emotions she hopes people will resonate with and cling to when they face adversity and loneliness.

While her story and talent started at OSU, it's grown to impact people in all walks of life. However, Jezek still remembers what it's like to feel like a droplet in a big ocean of students.

"If I were to talk to somebody at OSU just trying to find their way, I'd say you never really know where life's going to take you. Do your best, follow your heart. Life is a different game with unexpected turns," she said. "Even if you're experiencing a hard turn right now, take a deep breath. Life will go on, and there's always something beautiful waiting on the other side."

Whether in an OSU artroom or on a Tulsa canvas, Jezek's work carries the same unique message: no one is ever truly alone.

Story By: Annelise Vinson | [email protected]