Dante’s Inferno

This series is based upon the Cervidae solo exhibition that I showed at Catalyst Contemporary in the fall of 2021. With these artworks, I am appropriating the Henry Wadsworth Longfellow translation of Dante Alighieri’s epic poem, The Inferno. Transcribing the text in charcoal as background, I am revisiting the deer-headed representational figures featured in some of the prior Cervidae paintings and collages. I created the first eight of these artworks during my November-December 2022 artist residency at the Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA) in Amherst, and the second eight during my July-August 2024 artist residency at VCCA Moulin à Nef in Auvillar, France.

@ Virginia Center for the Creative Arts (VCCA)

Dante’s Inferno (Cantos IV / Partial, V + VI / Partial) , Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 50x38 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Cantos IV / Partial, V + VI / Partial), Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 50x38 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Intro + Canto I / Partial, No. 1) , Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 14x11 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Intro + Canto I / Partial, No. 1), Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 14x11 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Intro + Canto I / Partial, No. 2) , Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 30x22 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Intro + Canto I / Partial, No. 2), Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 30x22 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Canto II / Partial) , Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 30x22 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Canto II / Partial), Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 30x22 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Intro + Canto I / Partial, No. 3) , Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 30x22 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Intro + Canto I / Partial, No. 3), Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 30x22 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Canto IV / Partial, No. 1) , Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 30x22 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Canto IV / Partial, No. 1), Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 30x22 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Cantos III, IV + V / Partial) , Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 50x38 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Cantos III, IV + V / Partial), Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 50x38 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Cantos V / Partial, VI, VII + VIII / Partial) , Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 50x38 inches, 2022

Dante’s Inferno (Cantos V / Partial, VI, VII + VIII / Partial), Charcoal and acrylic on paper, 50x38 inches, 2022

@ VCCA Moulin à Nef

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 1 , Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 1, Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 2 , Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 2, Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 3 , Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 3, Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 4 , Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 4, Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 5 , Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 5, Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 6 , Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 6, Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 7 , Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 7, Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 8 , Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024

Dante's Inferno (Moulin à Nef) No. 8, Watercolor pencil and charcoal on paper, 12x9 inches, 2024