John Ochs Reflects on His Artistic Journey and the Medium That Moves Him

John Ochs ’92 continues to make waves in the Midwest art scene over three decades. Based in Kansas, Ochs was recently featured in IN Kansas City magazine, where he shared insights into his unique process, his chosen medium—pigmented shellac—and his evolution as an artist rooted in both spontaneity and control.

Known for his expressive, colorful abstract works, Ochs describes his creative process as “an intuitive game of chess,” where each artistic move builds upon the last. Working from a converted grain bin studio surrounded by Kansas farmland, he draws inspiration from nature’s palette—sunsets, storms, and seasonal change—translating those impressions into vibrant compositions that are both fluid and structured.

“My work is driven by the pure joy of painting,” said Ochs in the interview. “After working with shellac for over 25 years and understanding how to control it, it still invites chance, and I thrive on that uncertainty.”

Since his first solo show at Gallery V in the mid-1990s, Ochs has become a fixture in the Kansas City art community. His work is held in numerous public and private collections, including major regional firms and institutions such as Blue Cross and Blue Shield and American Century Investments.

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• Artist John Ochs Answers Four Questions
  (inkansascity.com—September 1, 2025)