Bio: Denée Zeigler is a Troy, N.Y. artist who earned her B.S. in Studio Art at the College of Saint Rose (98’) with a concentration in photography and drawing; some painting thrown in there too. While in college, the freedom of working large scale was discovered and it has stuck with her through the years. One result of this was of her getting involved in any public mural projects she can get her hands on. After graduating there was a small break in her work while she took time to start a family and raise some pretty cool kids. Managing to inject her creativity into most things she did while raising her children, she realized that the break was becoming too long (much too long). This really came to the forefront as the events of 2020 unfolded causing a shift in everyone’s day-to-day lives. The slowdown and reduction of hectic schedules allowed her the time to focus and jump back in. The road back through the eyes of an adult has been exciting and full of experimenting with varied materials and techniques. Thankfully, the art scene in Troy and the Capital Region is thriving with creative locals and artists from outside the area providing a constant stream of inspiration and support. She is 100% enjoying the journey.  

Artist Statement: Woodblock printing is my newest adventure which seems to take me on a physical, unplanned journey each time I start a project. The act of carving has unexpected pitfalls that end up adding to the overall character of the print and helps to keep my work from getting too rigid. Each mark made on the wood has the potential to show up when printed so it can be like a game of chess anticipating what kind of marks to combine or leave out in order to get the desired effect across to the viewer.

A lot of my time is spent outdoors enjoying my surroundings whether it be an urban or industrial setting or walking in the woods. My most recent work has focused on an area close by my home where I frequently walk with my dogs but can also see it from across the Hudson River, Peebles Island State Park. I find inspiration every time I go there and have decided to use that to create a focused series of my travels there; starting with a broad view and then getting progressively closer to the intimate scenes that I enjoy and encounter while walking there. In my submitted work, I really wanted to capture the mix of the industrial past with the natural surroundings. It made for the perfect time to experiment with the types of marks I was making. Hopefully, it will entice you to visit and explore for yourself.

Learn More: @_dzart