DENISE DUONG

The Studio Interview

Denise Duong greeted me with a warm welcome while cradling a (handmade) cup of coffee , and I quickly noticed all the unique items decorating her home. I picked up and admired every single piece of pottery while enjoying stories of where they came from. Walls were hung with one-of-a-kind artwork, from other artists as well as some of her own. Memories of her worldly travels are revealed in the knick-knack nooks that exist all throughout the home. Her living room opens up widely into her workspace. Paint spotted floors accompany rough sketches taped to the wall, while a desk in the corner is over crowded with papers.

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Denise shares her every day experiences through the personal narrative she gives her figures. The characters are personal thoughts and emotions, sometimes as casual as how she experiences sitting in a coffee shop. The backgrounds are inspired by her worldly travels, which she does for 2 reasons: the artwork, and pleasure (which is more or less the food!). Countries she has visited include China, Slovenia, Italy, Mexico, South Africa, Japan, Malawi, and most recently Mongolia. Small characters are in water color while the larger ones are in acrylic, placing emphasis on the latter. The work has evolved since she first started, and now focuses on “bringing the characters forward.”

Running off little sleep, Denise catches the sun rise on her front porch and soaks up the stillness of the morning. Moving to the backyard with headphones, Denise sketches with Debo, her 15 year old dog. The hardest part about being an artist is self-discipline, says Denise. A professional hanger-outer by day, and full time artist by night, she seems to have something figured out. To me, Denise is an all around helper. Her desire to advocate women’s rights led her to participate in the women’s march in D.C. She wishes to volunteer at a children’s refugee camp in the future. Interested in preservation since childhood, she has a heart for the Earth’s animals.

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A full time artist for 15 years, Denise opened up Little D Gallery in Paseo in 2017. Denise continues to travel frequently, searching for delicious food, new friends, and breathtaking views.  

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Written and interviewd by Liz Boudreaux