Deana Bada Maloney

I have been an observer of nature all my life. I am continually awestruck at the beauty of the natural world and the magic and mystery in every living thing. My work is a study of living forms, celebrating the structure of how something is made along with the transcendental presence of the subject.
I have a BFA in Drawing and Painting from the Art Institute of Chicago, with a strong focus in anatomy and scientific illustration. I have found sculpture to be another vehicle for me in which I am able to express the beauty and stories woven in nature and the world around us.
I tell a story in each of my pieces using symbolism in found materials that I incorporate into my work whether it is from the subject’s natural surroundings or a component of the story. I use a method of using oxides during the final firing of my pieces to capture all the marks made in the creating the piece. This makes my sculptures look like 3D drawings harkening back to my strong drawing roots.
The Nature We Create show is a body of work inspired by making “Frank and beans” a humorous but sad portrayal of animals having to adapt to the new landscape we are creating with our waste problem. It has been two years in the making and I am so grateful to show it in it’s entirety at Rosewood. This theme is something that I know I will continually address in my work throughout the years to continue to create awareness and inspire change.