DAVID PATRICK DEAL
Artist Bio
David Patrick Deal grew up in Fort Lauderdale and Miami, FL. He discovered his talents and love for art at age 3. Receiving multiple awards for art in high school, and winning First Place in the United States Congressional Art Competition at the age of 15 solidified his decision to pursue a career in art. David received his AA in Liberal Arts from Florida State University. He graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree, cum laude, from the Laguna College of Art and Design in Laguna Beach, California (back then, known as the Art Institute of Southern California).
In his professional career that has spanned over 30 years, David developed award-winning advertising and marketing campaigns for fortune 500 brands. His clients have included Coca-Cola, Disney, IBM, Deloitte, HP, Trimark Entertainment, GE, RCA, Yahoo!, P&G, GNC, Allergan, and too many more to name here.
His branding work continues today with his agency Deal Design, Inc. founded in 1999.
His fine artwork represents the culmination of a career spent shaping pop culture–now deconstructing it and offering new insights into our concepts of self and personal identity.
Artist Statement
Growing up in the information age of the 1970s, 80s, and 90s, I found myself irrevocably shaped by the omnipresence of pop culture. The influence of advertising, television, movies, and entertainment was constantly shaping my personal identity. Enveloped by these influences, I aspired to emulate the models, actors, musicians, and television stars I admired. They became my benchmarks for the things to possess, the brands to wear, the styles to follow, and the personas to embody – all in pursuit of social acceptance. I desperately wanted to be stylish enough, manly enough, and powerful enough to be worthy of love.
In the realm of canvas and color, my artistic journey unfolds as an exploration of the intricate fabric of personal identity. Delving into the depths of our being, I seek to unravel the layers that constitute our outward personas. What aspects of ourselves have we assimilated to secure the approval of others, and which facets are authentically ours? Distinguishing between borrowed personas and authentic self becomes the crux of this work.
These paintings are like mirrors, beckoning the observer to gaze into the visage of the central character – Infused with the echoes of a lifetime saturated in pop culture imagery, they prompt introspection – a probing examination into the authenticity of our ourselves. What emerges is an invitation, a call to embark on a shared journey. Together, we navigate the labyrinth of our own identities, peeling away layers borrowed from the vast tapestry of popular culture and weaving them together with personal truths. These canvases are more than art; they are catalysts for an internal quest, inspiring a search for the authentic self that resides within all of us.
