Today we’d like to introduce you to Donia.
Hi Donia, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
My life has taken me in many directions but the path has always been in line with the arts in some way.
My current trajectory was kicked off by my involvement with the now-defunct contemporary art blog ArtAttacks! Online. I was a correspondent and the online content curator for about five years. With them, I covered exhibition openings and art fairs, interviewed artists, guest contributed to other well-known arts magazines, and was given my first opportunity to co-curate a large-scale exhibition.
My involvement with ArtAttacks! lead me to be hired at Last Rites and Paul Booth Galleries which were known for their focus in contemporary surrealism and macabre art. I was their gallery manager, later promoted to assistant director, and became the primary curator for Last Rites’ dark art program.
All the while, I was working on my own art practice and had my debut solo exhibition, “Voyager,” at BBAM! Gallerie Montreal in 2019.
Paul Booth retired the galleries in 2020, and since I’ve been a “freelance art person”, working in arts administration and guest curating for various spaces including Brooklyn’s Gristle Art Gallery which moved its programming completely online in response to the pandemic. Quarantine also brought me back to my personal practice and now I’m heading into my sophomore solo exhibition with BBAM! which opens on May 26th
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
My pursuit of a career in the arts has certainly had its share of speed bumps. Roadblocks and obstacles have been plentiful, and at times, discouraging. The first significant challenge came when my high school animation program was canceled in favor of a NAVY-funded military simulation design course. The timing was unfortunate, as it coincided with Disney’s decision to lay off many of their traditional animators, which didn’t instill confidence in the future of the industry.
Down the road, I was accepted to an arts college in Ohio. However, my aspirations were put on hold again when the financial crisis of 2008 led to the loss of my financial aid, and I had to drop out of college after just over a year in attendance.
With the help of friends, I eventually made my way to New York City, where I landed the job at Last Rites & Booth Galleries. However, as I mentioned earlier, this role came to an end due to the pandemic.
Despite all of these challenges, I remain determined to pursue my passion for the arts. I am currently focusing on my personal art practice and am also looking forward to returning to curating in the coming years. I know that there will undoubtedly be more obstacles to overcome, but I am determined to continue pursuing my passion for the arts for the rest of my existence.
What were you like growing up?
Like most artists’ origin stories, I constantly was drawing as a child. Luckily my family was fairly supportive of my creativity growing up and tended to be marked as the “art kid” in school. I had always been interested in various visual art mediums and knew I wanted to pursue a career in the arts. I just wasn’t sure where I fit exactly. This question of where I “fit” has been a constant theme in my life.
As a child, I was quiet, observant, and empathetic, and although I got along with everyone, I never quite felt like I fit in. Despite having friends, I still felt like an outsider in most social circles
I was a latch-key kid which I will accredit my independent nature to. Because of this, I developed the ability to take care of myself (and later younger siblings) and learned to find solace in my own company. Maybe that’s where the art-making comes from.
If I wasn’t playing outside with limited supervision, I was at home consuming the classic cartoons of the 80s and 90s. This era I was born into was a time of rapid technological change, and I became fascinated by the rise of video games and early Internet culture. This fueled my interest in a sci-fi future and made me excited about the possibilities of what could be.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Currently focusing on my personal art practice. My artwork explores the mysteries of the human condition, futurism, and our connection to the universe. I delve into concepts such as love, time, and existence, often depicting mystical figures hovering in celestial landscapes.
My inspiration draws from the striking line work and visual storytelling of Art Nouveau posters and Japanese Ukiyo-e pieces. However, my drawing style is heavily influenced by my love for animation and sequential art, with a particular affinity for the mahō shōjo or “magical girl” genre. The ethereal and whimsical character designs, colorful, dreamy aesthetics, and fantastical worlds and stories central to this genre all come together to produce my unique illustrative approach to contemporary surrealism movements.
My work is primarily character-driven, and the figures that I depict are often enigmatic, existing in alternate realities that are both familiar and otherworldly. One common characteristic of these figures is that they often have parts of their skeleton or bodily organs exposed, primarily the brain or heart. These visual suggestions appear just beneath the surface of their skin, if not bursting out from their bodies, adding a layer of intrigue and symbolism to my art.
Through my work, I hope to create a space where viewers can safely return to a state of youthful imagination and lose themselves in the mysteries and possibilities of the universe. My aim is to provide a platform for reflection on their own journey through life, finding solace in the beauty and magic surrounding them.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.onlydoniauknow.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/onlydoniauknow/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onlydoniauknow/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/OnlyDoniaUKnow
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/onlydoniauknow
Image Credits
JJ Darling
