bio

Diana Calderón is a Mexican born multidisciplinary artist raised in the borderlands of El Paso, Texas, currently residing in Phoenix, Arizona. Calderón maintains an active art practice throughout the Southwest, co-founding of artist space Asterix gallery and studio at The Falstaff, with the mission of creating alternative exhibition opportunities for artists along the Southwest; the El Paso TX borderland.

A former school teacher and administrator, Calderón is dedicated to cultural preservation, equity, and inclusion. She is a certified Grief Educator, an alum of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture Leadership Institute. Currently mentors emerging professionals and leads impactful workshops. Her art has been displayed locally and internationally. Awards include the Artist 2 Work grant from the City of Phoenix Arts and Culture, Valley Metro CAPEX Public Art Extension, City of Phoenix Office of Arts & Culture Career Advancement Grant, Night Bloom Grant MOCA Tucson, 50K Water Public Art The New Arizona Prize team Vesich eth ve:m.

statement

“My artwork addresses personal history, identity, and generational stories; a form of archive, documenting personal and cultural narratives through sculptural installations, performance art, abstract books. My multidisciplinary approach and exploration includes material combining rascoachismo with traditional and contemporary techniques, using materials a language to explore themes of cultural continuity and generational memory, building a dialogue on connection and disconnection across borders.

In the piece Death, With Love: Muerte, Con Amor, I experiment with clear mylar and a sewing machine to ‘stitch’ without thread, creating an intricate, unfilled pattern of needle holes that echoes the void left by loss, forming my visual language of grief. The work represents absence as presence, hoping to invite viewers to reflect on the spaces and the meanings loss creates”
"Mi trabajo actual investiga mis raíces y cultura, conexión y desconexión, historia generacional, cruzar fronteras."

more

Creative Mornings Phoenix Talk 2021 “Uproot” by Diana Calderon

Artist Studio Tour 2020, presented by the ASU Art Museum. Meet Diana Calderon at her home studio. In this video, Diana talks to us about random fun facts, and shares some of her projects with us.