K. Dewayne Mercer works primarily in oil and cold wax. He is known for richly layered abstract compositions and a striking series of figurative abstract portraiture. With an education in architecture and over 30 years as a professional hairstylist, Mercer brings a finely tuned sense of compositional design, proportion, and color harmony to his work. 

Mercer's abstract paintings are inspired by the beauty of weathered walls, aged doors, and the layered patinas of historic cities. Using squeegees, brayers, and his own hands, he builds textured surfaces that invite the viewer to explore both visually and tactilely. Earthy, subdued neutrals meet bursts of vivid chromatic color, while bold lines and marks create movement and connection.

Whether in his abstract landscapes and color fields or his figurative abstract portraiture, Mercer’s work captures the imperfect, layered nature of human experience—complex, flawed, beautiful. He lives and works in Louisiana, creating art that invites reflection, and a sense of joy in discovery.