Walpa D’Mark
Born 1977, Managua, Nicaragua
Lives and Works in Los Angeles, CA
Bio:
Walpa D’Mark immigrated with his family from Nicaragua as a Political Asylum Refugee in 1982. He earned his BFA from Cal State Long Beach, and his MFA from Claremont Graduate University. He lives and works in Los Angeles.
Artist Statement:
As a Nicaraguan Immigrant and American Artist, living in a plural and post-modern society, I think about everything I put on the canvas as a symbol or icon. I can use my own idiosyncratic fantastical figures and landscapes, if I feel like reflecting on existentialism, nihilism or even nature. I can also add imagery that I find on the internet, such as political or philosophical figures that I might be thinking about, or that have a part in shaping my thoughts or feelings. I can include places or things that remind me of a time in my life, or that might have spiritual meaning. The back grounds can be psychological landscapes or they can be non-objective geometric compositions.
Since 2016 to recent, I have been making self-reflective paintings by synthesizing figuration and abstraction, historic references that intersect between Nicaraguan and American history, imagery from popular culture that coincide with my memories, and my idiosyncratic visual language. The Narrative encompasses personal memories, historical events, and contemporary political issues that interest me as a Political Asylum Refugee and an American Artist.
Most recently in 2024, I have gone in pretty heavy with the use of non-objective shapes as a way to allow myself to make what has been described to me (in many occasions) as white male art, and of which I have always shied away from making, because to a certain extent, I have bought into that narrative. In these recent 2024 paintings, I am having my own pleasurable moments in making connections and realizations, but I am content that the actual symbolism is the act of making the non-objective compositions. I consider my work to be dialectic, but also idiosyncratic. I am not trying to be didactic to others, but hope to learn from my work.
Education:
MFA, Claremont Graduate University, 2008 Painting
BFA, California State University, Long Beach, 2003 Drawing and Painting
Medic, Fort Sam Houston Army Academy of Health Sciences
Awards:
2022 CA Relief Funds for Artists and Cultural Practitioners, Yerba Buena Center for the Arts
2020 LA County Visual Artist Grant, Center for Cultural Innovation
2007 CGU Art Fellowship
2006 James Irvine Fellowship
Exhibitions:
2024 “In Color,” Rod Briggs Gallery, Long Beach, CA
2023 “My Little Narrative,” Jose Drudis-Biada Gallery, Mount Saint Mary’s University, CA (solo)
OC ARTBLOG: http://www.ocartblog.com/2023/09/artist-interview-walpa-dmark/
2022 “Common Ground” William Rolland Gallery, Cal Lutheran University, CA
2021 “Re-Socializing,” Curated by David Pagel, Claremont Graduate University, CA
2021 “New Histories,” Harris Gallery, University of La Verne, CA
ULV: https://artsci.laverne.edu/art/exhibition/new-histories/
2020 “Common Ground Online Exhibition, Cal Lutheran University, CA
Common Ground Online Exhibition: https://rollandgallery.wixsite.com/commongroundexhibit
2019 “B-LA Connect,” Scotty Enterprises, Berlin, Germany
2019 “New Colossus,” Eastside International (ESXLA), LA, CA
2019, “Encounters,” University of La Verne, CA (solo)
2015 “Post Medium,” Manhattan Beach Art Center, CA
Daily Breeze: https://www.dailybreeze.com/2015/03/06/post-medium-opens-at-art-center/
Easy Reader: https://easyreadernews.com/breathing-life-into-an-empty-space/
2014 “LA Art Show,” Coagula Booth, Los Angeles, CA
2013 “Sur Biennial II,” Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA
Sur Bienniel: https://www.cerritos.edu/art-gallery/main-pages/programs/sur/2013/TorranceArtMuseumSUr-2013/TorranceSur-2013.htm
2013 “Unsolved Mysteries,” Post, LA, CA
2012 “New Work,” Coagula Curatorial, LA, CA (solo)
2012 “Leap Year,” Curated by David Pagel, Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA
2011 “6th International Invitational Exhibition,” Gallery Iang, Seoul, South Korea
2011 “1st Sosabeol Art Festival,” Lake Pyeongtaek Art Museum, Pyeongtaek, South Kores
2011 ‘SOKI Invited Int’l Exchange,” Iang Gallery, Seoul, South Korea
2010 “A Bright Future,” House Gallery, Salth Lake City, Utah (solo)
Salt Lake City Weekly: https://www.cityweekly.net/utah/a-bright-future-walpa-dandrsquomark/Content?oid=2144332
2010, “Bakers Dozen 2,” Torrance Art Museum, Torrance, CA
2010 “Mannlicher Carcano Plex Mach 01,” Curated by Doug Harvey, Post, LA, CA
2009 “Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun,” Greenleaf Gallery, Whittier College, CA
2008 “Ambiguous and Sloppy,” East Gallery, Claremont Graduate University, CA (solo)
2008 “Ultrasonic III,” Mark Moore Gallery, Santa Monica, CA
2008 “Some Paintings,” Curated by Doug Harvey, Track 16, LA, CA
LA Weekly: https://www.laweekly.com/some-paintings/
2006 “Chain Letter,” High Energy Construct, LA, CA
2005 “Three Blind Mice,” The Office, An Art Space, Huntington Beach, CA
2004 “PG-13,” Concrete Walls, LA’s Miracle Mile, CA