VIRTUAL ART SHOW
SIX REFLECTIVE ART PIECES
Fragments of the Infinite
Illusions of Fate #1
Manifesting Fate
Intricacies of Destiny
Inner Journey
Beauty of Presence
Artist Statement
Fragments of the Infinite
Artist: Whitney Oberg
"Until you make the unconscious conscious, it will direct your life and you will call it fate." – Carl Jung
Inspired by this insight, my work explores the interplay of fate, time, destiny, and the choices that shape our paths. Through personal experiences with mental health and trauma, each piece becomes a search for meaning—an attempt to navigate the tension between uncertainty and the agency we hold within the unknown.
At its core, this series is a meditation on mindfulness: a practice of presence amidst life’s distractions, complexities, and challenges. Reflective materials embedded in the paintings serve as grounding elements, drawing the viewer’s attention to the present moment and fostering a deeper sensory connection. Color, representing the now, radiates outward in bursts, reflecting off central gemstones in select pieces, including the final work in color, Beauty of Presence.
Symbols of time, love, renewal, resilience, trauma, pain, fate, and destiny weave throughout the series, creating a delicate balance between harmony and chaos—forming Fragments of the Infinite. Through this series, I invite curiosity and introspection, offering a surreal yet hopeful perspective on achieving balance and resilience through reflective practices such as creativity, writing, and symbolic art-making.
✴︎ I created these works as visual representations of poetry I wrote while in therapy for trauma. // ✴︎ On the topic of mental health, I'd like to note: The opinions, stories, and work shared are based on personal experiences and perspectives. They may not apply to everyone’s situation and should not be taken as universally applicable or professional mental health advice. They are meant for artistic inspiration and information to describe my experiences and offer what has helped me on my healing journey. If you’re in crisis, please reach out to a licensed therapist or healthcare provider. (Crisis Hotline: 988 or dial 911 for emergencies). View Disclaimers A CLOSER LOOK.
Fragments of the Infinite
(2024) Acrylic, reflective material, and gemstones on canvas
8 x 10 in
This piece represents a landscape of life from a complex holistic perspective, reflecting on how my personal experiences and traumas intertwine with the passage of time and the challenges of mindfulness amid complex distractions and sensory overwhelm. The “present moment” is the only part painted in hues of color, reflecting off of the central physical gemstone. The rest of the setting’s materials and forms are left empty symbolizing the unknown space between my unconscious and conscious mind. Symbols of time, love, renewal, resilience, trauma, pain, fate, and destiny are intricately woven together, creating a delicate balance between harmony and chaos—forming Fragments of the Infinite.
Illusions of Fate #1
(2024) Acrylic, reflective material, and gemstones on canvas
8 x 10 in
This piece explores the tension between the feeling of fate and the unpredictability of life. The strings of shimmering pearls suggest a sense of order, as if everything is interconnected and destined. Yet, their subtle complexity hints at something deeper—that fate may be an illusion. Inspired by the idea that the unconscious can shape our reality, this work reflects life’s paths as a delicate interplay of chance, choice, preparation, and the unexpected, marked with reflective gemstones. Together, these elements create illusions of fate within the infinite unknown.
Manifesting Fate
(2024) Acrylic, reflective material, and gemstones on canvas
8 x 10 in
A heart-shaped locket etched with 'Fate' catches the light, drawing attention to the tangled jewelry that represents the tension between fate and choice. In a metaphorical way, this piece explores how surreal experiences, patterns, and uncertainties lead us to seek fate as the answer to life’s infinite questions. I view each layer of painted jewelry and gemstones as symbols of beauty, depth, and life’s complexities.
Intricacies of Destiny
(2024) Acrylic, reflective material, and gemstones on canvas
8 x 10 in
Layered chains, pearls, and gemstones weave together to reflect the intricate web of life’s paths in this painting of jewelry. Through its design, the piece symbolizes the freedom of choice I had in shaping the jewelry as I envisioned, mirroring how we navigate our own destinies. It explores the delicate balance between control and inevitability, offering a meditation on how we shape—and are shaped by—the paths we take.
Inner Journey
(2024) Acrylic and gemstone on canvas, 8 x 10 in
A painting that captures the allure of new beginnings with a metaphor and symbolism. The pearl symbolizes quiet resilience as it forms and becomes stronger over time, while the seashell offers protective strength, creating a sense of safety within the infinite. The glimmer of colorful light with a physical gemstone on the pearl is a focal point that gives the symbolic and sensory ability to actually feel and interact with the present moment.
Beauty of Presence
(2024) Acrylic and gemstones on canvas, 8 x 10 in
In the final painting of the series, I explore what it means to connect with the present moment. Inspired by the harmony, renewal, and beauty of nature, this piece offers a simple path to mindfulness: found in the quiet joy of noticing both the beautiful intricacies and imperfections in a bouquet of flowers.
✿
Exhibitions
APRIL 2023 ✴︎ Virtual Exhibition
Create! Magazine
Artwork featured in Create! Magazine. “In this exhibition, the concept of alchemy is explored not just through the creation process, but also through the lens of experimentation, change in nature, the journey to self-healing and growth, otherworldly abstraction, the resilient and transformative power of radical joy, and of course, through looking at the concept of magic itself, wandering down eerie paths of surreal imagery.”
MARCH 2023 ✴︎ Chicago, IL
Blnk Haus Women’s Art Show
Artwork featured in the 5th Annual Women’s Art Show in Bucktown. 20 local artists featured in this springtime exhibition.
MARCH 2021 ✴︎ Chicago, IL
Unscarred Art Show
Artwork featured in the Unscarred Art Show, supporting “the feature-length documentary that tells the transformative stories of physically scarred survivors who find healing and reclamation through the art of tattoos.”
SUMMER 2020 ✴︎ Published in MN
Rag Mag Revival Magazine
Artwork featured in Rag Mag Revival, a project under the Black Hat Press in Minnesota, is a literary magazine that publishes poetry, short stories, and other creative works.
OCTOBER 2020 ✴︎ Print & Virtual
FWWR
Artwork featured in For Women Who Roar Magazine. This print issue explores themes of embodiment and the stories we hold within ourselves.
NOVEMBER 2016 ✴︎ Florence, Italy
FSFA Fall Exhibition
Artwork featured in Florence School of Fine Arts’ Fall Exhibition. Exhibition and reception held at Casa del Vasari in the heart of Florence, Italy.
✿
Contact
Thank you for taking the time to learn more about my artwork! As an artist, I’d love to know if you connected with my work, or if you have any interpretations you’d like to share. Please reach out via email to connect! :)
Email: whitney.renee.oberg@gmail.com
Read more: Art Blog
ARTIST BIO
Whitney Oberg is a multidisciplinary artist whose work spans art direction, design, printmaking, wearable art, and mural painting, alongside other passion projects and crafts. Her work explores themes of resilience, harmony, and surrealism, drawing from personal experiences with mental health and trauma while finding balance in celebrating life’s simple joys. She invites viewers to find beauty in everyday moments and embrace the joy of discovery and creative expression.
ARCHIVE
✿
ARCHIVE ✿
Floral Art
2024
Acrylic, Watercolor
Printmaking
2024
Linocut prints on paper, Wearable art
Time
2022
Acrylic on canvas
Featured in Create! Magazine and Blnk Haus Woman’s Art Show.
This piece explores resilience, trauma, and healing. When I first completed it in 2022, I titled it Mirrors to reflect my journey of confronting my mental health.
Now, I feel drawn to a new name: Time. This change represents breaking free from limiting mindsets and recognizing the role time plays in the healing process: increasing space from pain and trauma of the past.
Series: Reflections
2020
Acrylic, Pierre Noire charcoal, Colored Pencil
