Cecil Bernard’s Vibrant Art Finds a West Coast Stage in Everett
Cecil Bernard, an abstract painter long celebrated for his dynamic compositions, has brought his signature style to the Pacific Northwest with a new exhibition at an Everett studio. Previously dubbed the “Artist to the Stars” by the *Dallas Morning News* in the 1990s, Bernard’s work now joins the ranks of notable collectors such as NBA legend Magic Johnson, according to his official biography.
The Everett show marks a deliberate expansion to the West Coast, where Bernard anticipates building greater visibility for his art. “The West Coast has no idea who I am, and yet I have some very strong clients there,” he noted. “But it doesn’t mean anything if people don’t know who you are.”
The exhibition is hosted at I.T.R.A.P. Studios, named for Is That Right Annie Productions, after the sister of studio owner Dru White, located on Hewitt Avenue. Open to visitors during the monthly Everett Art Walk on the third Thursday, the space currently displays Bernard’s pieces in its front room. He aims for viewers to absorb not only the visual impact but also the emotional resonance embedded in each work.
“I think if you came to one of my shows and saw a piece framed and hanging up, it would move you,” Bernard said. “All of it has narratives. All of it has energy.”
His current Everett offering emphasizes bold abstraction, incorporating splattered pigments, glow-in-the-dark elements, and three-dimensional textures that extend beyond the flat canvas. White, who selected Bernard’s art for the studio, cited its distinctiveness as key to its appeal. “It’s different,” White observed. “I think it’d be a great addition.”
Beyond creation, Bernard remains deeply engaged in community service, regularly donating work to charitable causes and conducting workshops in schools serving under-resourced neighborhoods. His outreach efforts have drawn national recognition, including lifetime achievement honors from both the Obama and Biden administrations.
“I’ve never met anyone who loves what they do more than me,” Bernard said, describing his approach as joyful and instinctive. “It is absolutely not work. I’m like a kid in a candy store.”
The exhibit is scheduled to run through November, with Bernard planning to attend a special meet-and-greet during the October art walk. White also aims to broaden the studio’s role as a creative hub, offering rental space at 1806 Hewitt Ave. through druwhiteproductions.com.
White is currently recruiting poets for the Soapbox Speak Out showcase and envisions the studio as a platform for emerging voices to produce high-caliber content without relying on traditional gatekeepers. “I wanted to be the ladder past the gatekeepers,” he explained, noting how digital tools and social media have reshaped access to artistic platforms.
For White, Everett offers fertile ground for artistic growth. “This is the art hub, the creative center, if you will,” he said. “You look up on their walls and everything, so many beautiful artists.”