Daria Di Benedetto, born October 5th 1962 in New Jersey, was educated at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design, and now resides in Los Angeles.

In her own words:

“The one constant in my life has been creativity. It was my sanity as a child and ironically the opposite, madness, or the fine line between the two has become my inspiration and obsession.”

“I won most artistic in high school my senior year and had planned to go onto art school to study graphic design. I wanted to become either an illustrator of children’s books or textile designer as I find beauty and tranquility in the repetition of the patterns; however after my first year of art school, I found painting and redirected my focus to the freedom of fine art.”

“My process is discomfort followed by inspiration. Somewhere along the way the process became the theme and focus of my work; trying to capture that space, that moment between madness and serenity. Perfect imperfection, the flaws in humans, in paint strokes in anything hand touched. That uniqueness that cannot be duplicated enhanced by layers of mistakes and the unforeseen in life as well as in art that makes life interesting and beautiful. Decorative art with a sadness, a texture, a hint of unsettledness; when you are not sure which way it will go, should go. Not knowing which would bring more satisfaction and when the outcome surprises you and makes you think this is awkward, there is pain but there is also a peace and a calming and a space that is so beautiful and satisfying.”

“Klimt was always a huge influence. His use of pattern and tangled, sometimes deformed, bodies spoke to me. There was also a mystery and a story being told. My work is narrative. Each figure has a history that has brought them to my canvas so I can tell their story. My story.”

“The very edge of sanity and madness, joy and sorrow, ecstasy and devastation is where my paintings live.”

“Life is a constant prayer; a constant contemplative state in which every moment warrants reverence and presence. My work is about capturing the reverence, capturing the discomfort in being alive and the constant choices and contemplative moments, joys and sorrows that it allows.”