Renee Dempsey

www.reneedempsey.com 

Instagram: @RLD_Artworks 

My work is not simply defined by one style or practice but by the story or relationship I have to it. I work with a plethora of mixed media elements including ephemera, fabric, oil and acrylic paint, chalk, charcoal, pastel, and even my own body. Through my visual and performance art I explore the depths of my emotions and invite viewers into my personal history and experiences. The art I create seems to evolve in style frequently but is ultimately rooted in who I am. The work I make is a manifestation of my anxieties, depression, and trauma that plague my memories. For me, the act of creating is as significant as the final product. Many of my pieces begin as a process of recycling—layering ephemera such as tissue paper, phone book, or Uline catalog pages onto canvas or paper. I embrace movement and motion in my work, ensuring each piece evokes emotion. If a work feels static, I rework it, using bold colors to inspire positivity and energy.

I grew up in Northville, Michigan. I earned my bachelor’s of fine art in studio art with a concentration in drawing and painting, and a bachelor’s of science in dance from Wayne State University in December of 2021. I have shown work all across Detroit and Metro Detroit including in Grosse Pointe at the Artist Takeover Project, Hatch Gallery in Hamtramck, Downriver Council for the Arts in Wyandotte, and the Northville Art House. I have painted multiple murals in Novi, MI and Hanahan, SC. Now, I create art from my studio as a TEAD ONE Memorial Artist in Residence in Dearborn, MI.