About deVer contact: deliadever@gmail.com
Originally from Mill Valley California, artist Delia deVer moved to Texas after studying visual art at the California College of the Arts. Her unique use of color and modern approach to painting, drawing and textiles blossomed and matured in Texas through an artist residency in Marfa, TX. The light, open spaces, the play of time and the small town’s unusual artistic sophistication spoke to her interests in finding the edges and overlaps between material, abstraction, textiles, craft and nature inspired work. She continues to live between Texas and California offering creativity retreats and workshops as a Teaching Artist for LACMA in Los Angeles, as well as other organizations in both States.
In 2019 deVer became interested in creating paintings that would honor the Earth through the language of minimalistic abstract art. As humans face a major call to stewardship, she challenged herself to find whatever faint sounds of authentic grandeur she could find underneath the confusion and sirens of escalating global environmental concerns. With patience, listening and letting the creative process lead, she was able to see how this would manifest. Some ideas had been explored for over a year around this concept, but it wasn't until the 2020 quarantine that she was presented with a clear way forward through, to her surprise, the playful fiber work she had underway. With direct influence from the striped deVer art shawls, she saw how they served as the bridge to the Earth Mantra paintings. They appear, to her, as a modern form of Thangka painting and Mantra through modern painting, drawing from both her Eastern and Western approaches to art and life. Preverbal communication comes through the beneficial dance of color and light, emitting a radiant effect that enlivens the indoor and outdoor spaces they inhabit. The paintings manifest as subtle, yet direct and optimistic vibrant energy. Rather than being a symbolic gesture, based on the initial concept, as it turns out, the paintings reflect far more back to the Artist and the Viewer, as we are able to rise above the overuse of color in our lives and remain open to the magical, special qualities of pure color through the rare materials of Earth’s pigments. Color needs no concept to be truly felt and appreciated.
As a painter and contemporary fiber Artists, her projects continue to inform each other.
Current fiber art projects include a series underway around the relationship between what we eat and it's environmental impact, along with continued work with the deVer art shawl pieces.
In 2020 deVer co-founded Vote=Voice with Leticia and Sedrick Huckaby, a collaborative Art effort in the Dallas Fort Worth area.
Other Art themes around her art activists efforts are centered around protecting nature and wildlife.
deVer's approach to art creation works in an intentional, simple way that honors the raw beauty of materials. She incorporates eastern concepts of art and life based on formal training as a Dharma artist and Mantra practitioner informing her translations of sound and color. She strives to share a lively experience she feels from nature and the truth that we are interconnected. Placing nature, plants and animals upon the pedestal of canvas and sculpture through her modern and energetic style features them boldly. Inspiring others to be innovative, excited and to take positive action towards protecting nature is the best outcome she hopes to offer.
Exhibitions
2021 Blanc Studios group exhibit, Fort Worth, TX
2021 Guest Artist presentation
Dharma Art Conference for Artists and Teachers, Los Angeles
2020 Vote=Voice artist collaboration cofounders Leticia and Sedrick Huckaby community installations, Fort Worth, TX
2019 Dharma Art exhibit and collaboration, L.A. West side Center Los Angeles, CA
2018 Open Studio/house concert, Fort Worth, TX
2017 Fort Worth Community Art Center “Impromptu” Fort Worth, TX
2015 BRIT Botanical Research Institute, Fort Worth, TXSolo exhibit
2013 Rose Marine Gallery, Fort Worth, TX Group show
2012 InstallationLACMA event installation Los Angeles County Museum of Art
2011 Step into the ArtsDallas, TX
Deep Ellum Arts Festival Dallas, TX
2010 Absinthe Lounge galleryexhibit and auction, Dallas, TX
Bldg98 Marfa TX
Deep Ellum Arts Festival
Arts GoggleLili’s Bistro, Fort Worth, TX
2009 Arts Goggle Fort Worth TX
Deep Ellum Arts Festival
2007 Deep Ellum Arts Festival
2006 2Painters and a Sculptor Local Color Gallery, Dallas TX
One Stop Gallery night, Fort Worth TX
Wildflower Festival art show Fort Worth, TX
Deep Ellum Arts Festival
2005 “Untitled” The Thinking Cup, Gallery night, Fort Worth, TX
Lectures, Panels, Distinctions
2022 Fort Worth Public Art selected pre-qualified Artist
BRIT Visiting Artist workshop
2012 Into The Wilderness Invigilator led discussion, Angels Gate Cultural Center
Tibetan Buddhism dharma art intensive L.A.
2011 Art Teachers Who Maintain Their Artistic Practice, TCU Panel discussion
Featured Artist NAEA presentation Dr. AlisonTCU and Author Peter Clothier “Persist”
Portrait for 2011 Texas State Musician Sara Hickman’s official seal
2005 Outdoor Learning Environments with Native plants, Guest Lecturer, BRIT Botanical Research Institute, Fort Worth, TX
Outdoor Learning Environments, Guest Lecturer, Native Plant Society, Denton, TX
Education
Eastern Illinois University graduate studies MA
UCLA graduate studies
CCAC California College of the Arts BA
Cal PolySan Luis Obispo
Bibliography
www.SusanLBrooks.com Newsletter, Feature, Sept 2022
2020 NBC news Artist interview feature Vote=Voice Fort Worth Magazine, oct, 2020
Square One publication, featured artist
Marfa Public Radio KRTS 93.5, Talk at 10 interview, November 23rd, 2010,
Deep Ellum Arts Festival, You Tube video, April 3rd, 2010
Walking Through A Labyrinth on CD Delia deVer itunes, CDbaby
Aktive transport Delia deVer and Ty Macklin xsquaremusic.bandcamp.com
Portrait of Sara Hickman for State Musician Seal
Fort Worth Star-Telegram, ongoing art published weekly from 1999-2007
Sybex Inc, Art and illustrations for numerous publications 1989-1992
Walking Through A Labyrinth CD cover art, Aktive Transport CD and Song tittle art
Employment
Angels Gate Cultural Center Invigilator and development assistant
Los Angeles County Museum of Art Teaching Artist
LAEP Los Angeles Educational Partnership GEAR UP Art Teacher
Fort Worth ISD Art Teacher
EC-12 Art education State credentials California and Texas
Fort Worth Star-Telegram Artist
Sybex Inc. International book publisher Artist
Visual Art sites
fb Creativity coach
fb Delia deVer
deVer hosts Creativity workshops sharing with others her practices as a formally training dharma artist, an authorized dharma art teacher and her own unique activities to facilitate other's creativity and mindfulness/ awareness practices. FB Creativity Coach
