By Emily Burleigh

“Contained: Street Artists in the Wild” is an exhibit that highlights art that exists outside the bounds of a gallery.

For street artists, like muralists and graffiti artists, public spaces are their galleries. But from March 6 to April 26, prints of street art of artists Anat Ronan, Tetiana Talanova and Alex Maksiov will be on display at Gallery One EIIIeven, 111 Third St., Leesville.

Gallery Coordinator Tony McDonald said the exhibit is the result of a year-long friendship between the gallery and Ronan.

Ronan is originally from Israel and now lives and works in her Houston studio. After she and the gallery were connected through social media, she participated in the Mayfest Chalk a Block activity, creating a sidewalk painting in front of the Vernon Parish Policy Jury offices that featured the parishes’ wildlife. A few years later, she returned to Mayfest to teach a chalk drawing class.

Now, she is returning to the area alongside Ukrainian artists Talanova and Maksiov to bring an exhibit of over 15 works — a combination of large mural prints, chalk and acrylic paintings, McDonald told the American Press. The styles of the pieces range from photo-realistic images to paintings created with a “looser brushstroke style.”

Street artists bring a unique take on art, both in style and access.

“These artists break the walls and formality of brick-and-mortar galleries and art museums and bring their work directly to the public,” he said. “Be it on the side of a train car, the side of a building to gracing and underpass, these artists deal with not only beauty and good design, but they also address fragility and impermanence in their work.”

He said he hopes the exhibition will inspire the city, local businesses and property owners, and the surrounding area to recognize the merit of street art to enhance their spaces and bring art to everyone.

A closing reception will be held on April 26 in conjunction with the third annual Art of the Eat fundraiser for the Leesville Art Park.