Abigail DeVille (born 1981) is an American artist who creates large sculptures and installations, often incorporating found materials from the neighborhoods around the exhibition venues.[1][2] DeVille's sculptures and installations often focus on themes of the history of racist violence, gentrification, and lost regional history.[3][4][5][6][7] Her work often involves a performance element that brings the artwork out of its exhibition space and into the streets; DeVille has organized these public events, which she calls "processionals," in several U.S. cities, including Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and New York.[8][9] Deville likes to use her own family as inspiration for her art work. She decided to use her grandmother as inspiration because of her vibrant personality, to help her articulate ideas from the neighborhoods of the Bronx.[10] Deville is pleased that her art works are unique, as many people see trash as useless to them, while DeVille instead sees an opportunity.[3]
Abigail DeVille | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | October 12, 1981 New York City, New York, U.S. |
| Education | Pratt Institute Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture |
| Alma mater | Fashion Institute of Technology Yale University |
| Occupation(s) | Artist, sculptor |
| Known for | Large sculptures and installations |
Early life and education
editDeVille was born in New York and lives and works in the Bronx, New York. DeVille tries to direct attention to historical realities that are largely unknown; she tries to illuminate truths, which people give little care or thought to, from the history of a group of people seen through the light of violence.[11] She attended the High School of Art & Design (1999) and the Cooper Union Saturday Program.[12] DeVille teaches at the Maryland Institute College of Art.[13] She earned a B.F.A. from the Fashion Institute of Technology (2007) and an M.F.A. from Yale University (2011) and studied at Pratt Institute (2000) and the Skowhegan School of Painting and Sculpture (2007). She has held residencies at the Studio Museum in Harlem (2013–2014) and the International Studio and Curatorial Program, Brooklyn (2012).[14][15]
DeVille took part in the reality television series Artstar (2006), the first art-based reality show.[16]
Awards
editDeVille has received awards from the Joan Mitchell Foundation (2012), the Edward and Sally Van Lier Fund of the New York Community Trust (2012), and Creative Capital (2015).[15][17] In 2015, she also received the Obie Award for design for her work as a scenic and costume designer on Prophetika: An Oratorio, a production at La Mama Experimental Theatre Club.[18] In 2016, she was awarded a Rome Prize of the American Academy in Rome (for 2017–2018).[19]
References
edit- ^ Cotter, Holland (August 28, 2014). "The Stuff of Life, Urgently Altered". The New York Times. Retrieved April 15, 2016.
- ^ "Abigail DeVille". Art21. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
- ^ a b McDermott, Emily (July 3, 2017). "In Profile: Abigail DeVille". Frieze. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- ^ "Abigail DeVille's Harlem Stories". Art21. September 19, 2014.
- ^ Cotter, Holland (December 24, 2015). "'If You Leave Me Can I Come Too?' A Show Whose Subject Is Death". The New York Times.
- ^ Cotter, Holland (March 16, 2016). "Are All-Women Shows Good or Bad for Art?". The New York Times.
- ^ "Abigail DeVille – America – Art Matter". November 10, 2015.
- ^ Kaplan, Isaac (August 1, 2016). "Abigail DeVille Aims to Disrupt Centuries of New York Gentrification". Artsy. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
- ^ McGlone, Peggy; McGlone, Peggy (September 12, 2014). "A piece of D.C.'s 5x5 public art festival panned by local residents". The Washington Post. ISSN 0190-8286. Retrieved March 11, 2017.
- ^ "Artist Spotlight: Abigail DeVille | Broad Strokes Blog". NMWA. January 10, 2018. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- ^ "Abigail DeVille: Homebody - Exhibitions - Andrew Edlin Gallery". www.edlingallery.com. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- ^ "Black Nouveau | Program | #2409". YouTube. Milwaukee PBS.
- ^ "Abigail DeVille – GROUND". sites.usc.edu. Retrieved May 12, 2021.
- ^ "Studio Museum in Harlem Announces 2013–2014 Artists in Residence". ArtForum. August 25, 2014. Retrieved June 11, 2024.
- ^ a b "Abigail DeVille | Radcliffe Institute for Advanced Study at Harvard University". www.radcliffe.harvard.edu. Retrieved March 10, 2017.
- ^ Herriman, Kat (June 1, 2016). "10 Years Later, a Look Back at Art's First Reality Show". Creators, Vice Magazine. Retrieved February 15, 2019.
- ^ "Creative Capital – Investing in Artists who Shape the Future". creative-capital.org.
- ^ Obie Awards, 2015 Winners.
- ^ "Abigail DeVille", Chuck Close/Henry W. and Marian T. Mitchell Rome Prize, American Academy in Rome.