Winter 2023 Artist Of The Season
Each season, we choose an artist who inspires the visual energy of Shoppe Object. We are excited to introduce you to this winter’s Artist of the Season: Darrell Dean, a North Carolina-based creative whose captivating series of heads and distinctive paper bag brown color palette is truly speaking to us. We know you’ll love his work as much as we do – you can meet him and shop his art in person at Shoppe Object, this February 5-7.
NAME: Darrell Dean
PLACE OF BIRTH: Nashville, TN (My father was in school there, but I grew up in the Appalachian Mountains of Virginia – Max Meadows, VA.)
CURRENTLY RESIDE: Winston Salem, NC
FAVORITE SONG: “Three Sisters” by Beats Antique. But I listen to lots of music: trip hop, electronica, vaporwave, India Psytrance …
IF YOU WERE A COLOR, YOU’D BE: Paper bag brown
What is your artistic origin story?
I've always made stuff. My Grandmother was kind of a folk artist, and so I just started there, then I went to art school GWU in the 1990’s.
How has your art evolved or changed over the years? What led you to create the series of heads and faces?
I hope it’s getting simpler, more pure, and stripped down. I have always drawn heads – they just always appealed to me. It’s all there in the head!
What is your artistic process like?
I spend 80% of my time making art and, for the last 4-5 years, I come to the studio shop, turn up music real loud, and just go pushing myself. There are no rules and no mistakes.
Tell us a bit about the mediums you work with.
For the last few years, I have been working on brown paper in one size (head size). I use pen, ink, color pencils, wild berry juice, soy sauce … sometimes I dye paper. I draw, paint, collage – all seem to be within a limited color palette of browns, whites, and blacks.
What would you do with a free day?
I work 7 days a week – I just always have. I like it. 80% of the time I make art and 20% of the time I deal in antiques and decorative arts … kinda more offbeat stuff.
But a day off! Wow – the last one we drove to small North Carolina town (Elkin, NC) and had a meal beside an old railroad bridge. The train came by and it was relaxing …
Do you have a best recipe or a favorite meal?
Gotta be NC BBQ. I live near Lexington, NC, where they are serious about BBQ, so I try lots of Pulled Pork around North Carolina and love the vinegar-based BBQ.
You own Darrell Dean Antiques & Decorative Arts in Winston Salem, NC. Is there a particular piece you have in the shop right now that’s tickling your fancy?
Hard to narrow down to one thing. I like birdcages, real industrial (I just got a 1900 movie theater projector – very steampunk), bamboo 1970s furniture, tole plants, old stripped and patina pine, patinated bronze, beautiful and weird stuff …
Favorite design movement?
I like great design from any movement or time really, so that would be hard to narrow down – I like even stuff made today. I see items from Shoppe Object with great design, and you know they are always gonna be respected (and collected) just like great designs from all eras. Can’t wait to take a look at the next show.
Thank you Darrell!
Antiques & Decorative Arts
3645 Indiana Ave.
Winston Salem, NC 27105
202-333-6330
darrelldeanantiques.com
@darrell_dean_antiques