Denise R. Duarte

Lives and works in Las Vegas, NV, USA

Artist statement

I am a multidisciplinary, socially-engaged artist and an activist. My work is influenced by my decades as a feminist and a lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) activist. My studio practice focuses on the historical societal influences on beliefs and behavior with regard to contemporary gender and sexual orientation issues. My art practice is actually comprised of what some people would define as four different art practices: Studio, Public Art, Social, and Civic. The reality, for me as an artist, the four categories are a sub-category that I simply define as my art practice. So, it is all my art. One category influences another and often overlaps with another category, even within one art project. The conceptual basis for my artwork is primary. The materials are selected that best articulate the chosen concept and advance further exploration of the issues through the artwork. My current artistic passion is a further exploration of my Garden of Diversity series, which began in earnest in 2011. The initial seed for Garden of Diversity - Naturae paradiso diversitias was planted when I learned the botanical definition of the Perfect Flower: a flower containing both male and female parts. The most complex and luscious blooms are usually Perfect Flowers, such as the rose. Flowers are the most diverse living organism in physical form and plants have a variant sexual reproduction morphology. The message was clear and powerful; nature thrives on sexual and gender...

Artwork