Dorothy Graden

Artist on VibrantCast

Artist Statement Connection has always been at the core of my journey, guiding me to explore what lies beneath the surface. Growing up in Gary, IN, I was fascinated by the cultural diversity and the sense of community between immigrants, natives, and passers-through. As a child, I collected old boards from alleyways, transforming them into art, inspired by the graffiti I saw on buildings and bridges. Spirals, dots, and zigzags became central components of my creations. An educator for 20 years, I shared the richness of our multicultural world with my students and witnessed the universal need for the inherent creativity present in all human expression. My art is objective and layered, drawing from the textures and colors of the earth and sea, as well as the ebb and flow of time and space. Using a variety of mixed media – ink, watercolor, gouache, acrylic, pastels, and even sand, I create intricate and intuitive works filled with hidden images and patterns that invite viewers to uncover their own connections to the stories within. My travels across the U.S. Southwest, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Latin America have deepened my understanding of cultural symbols and artistic traditions.