While working in my studios in Arizona and California, I draw inspiration from the beauty, fragility and strength of the natural world. Whether walking by the ocean or hiking on desert trails, I find myself completely immersed in the moment. These environments allow me to listen to my inner voice and nourish my creative spirit.
My artwork is always evolving and shifting between painting, installations, and most recently video. I find inspiration not only in nature but also in the mysterious and complex languages of memory and solitude. I work intuitively and often combine writing with imagery.
My paintings are created using a variety of media such as graphite, charcoal, oil crayon, and acrylic paint. I use gestural marks as well as more delicate fine writing to create impact and intimacy. I am drawn to words both for their visual beauty and as a means of connection. My paintings capture fleeting moments in time, and they reflect my feelings, dreams, hopes and memories.
Mixed Media Artist, Diane L. Silver with a commissioned abstract painting.
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
“Each Leaf a Poem”, University of Arizona College of Medicine, October 25, 2024 - January 10, 2025
“Tangled Beauty”. Gebert Contemporary, February 29 - March 28, 2024
“The Weight of Gravity”, Gebert Contemporary, February 3 - February 28, 2022
“Language of Memory”, University of Arizona College of Medicine Gallery, April 1 – June 12, 2019
“Remember That You Will Forget”, Gebert Contemporary, January 10 – February 2, 2019
“Language of Memory”, Gebert Contemporary, January 5 – February 4, 2017
INVITATIONAL EXHIBITIONS
“Women Storytellers”’ Tempe Arts & Culture, Tempe Post Office, January 20 - May 7, 2024
“Viewpoints: How We Understand Art”, Center Space Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ, Oct 29, 2020 – February 21, 2021 [Curator: Laura Hales]
“Seven Artists, Seven Friends”, Yavapai College Prescott Art Gallery, June 22 – August 1, 2019
“Arte Callejero” (Street Art), Yuma Arts Center, March 9 – May 19, 2018
Contemporary Forum Live Art Auction, Phoenix Art Museum (January 27, 2018)
“Language of Memory and Maps of the Imagination”, Diane Silver and Shelley Heffler,
Yavapai College Art Gallery, Prescott, AZ (July 14, 2017 – August 14, 2017).
Chen Gallery, 798 Arts District, Beijing, People’s Republic of China (March 5, 2017 – April 1, 2017)
“Looking Back … Re: Discovering Early Works From The Female Artists of Found:Re Phoenix”, January 6 - 31, 2017
“New Work” - Gebert Contemporary, Scottsdale, AZ, 2015 and 2016
“Text, not Texting" - Gebert Contemporary, Scottsdale, AZ 2014
"Works on Paper" - Gebert Contemporary, Scottsdale, AZ 2013
"Reese-Joki-Silver" - Gebert Contemporary, Scottsdale, AZ, 2013
“Language of Silence” - @Central Gallery, Burton Barr Library, Phoenix, AZ 2013
“Word Up: Artists Using Language” - Art Intersection Gallery, Gilbert, AZ
"Out of the Blue - Cyanotype Invitational” - Art Intersection Gallery, Gilbert, AZ 2011
GRANTS
Tempe Vibrant City Grant, Tempe, AZ 2018 - 2019
Resident Artist & Facilitator, “Giving Voice to Women Through the Arts,” Sias International University, Xinzheng City, Henan, People’s Republic of China, sponsored by the US Department of State (February 23, 2017 – March 29, 2017)
JURIED EXHIBITIONS
“There is No Planet B, ecofeminism and climate”, Center Space Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ, January 17-April 27, 2025 [Jurors: Laura R. Hales and Patricia Watts]
“Viva Magenta”, Art on 30th Gallery, San Diego, CA, August 19 - September 15, 2023 [Juror: Jennifer Skeen], Awarded “Best in Show”
“Coming to Terms”, Center Space Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ, July 22, 2023 - March 11, 2024 [Juror: Laura Hales]
“Earth Elements”,Shemer Art Center, Phoenix, AZ, November 2, 2022 - January 5, 2023 [Juror: Patricia Sannit]
“Socially Distanced”, Center Space Gallery, Scottsdale, AZ., September 24, 2021 - January 9, 2022 [Jurors: Laura Hales and Pamela Winfrey]
“Only Black and White”’ Shemer Art Center, Phoenix, AZ, November 3, 2021 - January 6, 2022 [Juror: Mary Meyer]
“Hi Ho Silver” (National Show), Art on 30th Gallery, San Diego, CA, October 30 - December 3, 2021 [Juror: Wendy L. Wilson-Gibson]
7th Annual Leaves and Petals International show (Online), Fusion Art, Palm Springs, CA, October 2021
20th Anniversary Exhibition of the Breakfast Club, Scottsdale Civic Center Library. Scottsdale, AZ, October – December 2020 [Curator: Wendy Raisanen]
Artlink, 19th Annual Juried Show, Park Central, February 2019 [Jurors: Lisa Sette,
Jennifer McCabe and Gennaro Garcia]
“Blackout” – Ashton Gallery, San Diego, CA 2018 [Juror: Daniel Foster]
Sunniest Place on Earth Fine Arts Show, Yuma Arts Center, November 25, 2017 – January 20, 2018 (Juror: Ben Wood)
Artlink, 18th Annual Juried Show, Heard Museum, September 15, 2016
“Local Inspiration” - Art on 30th, San Diego, CA, 2016
“Next Level” - Art Intersection Gallery, Gilbert, AZ, December 2015 – January 2016
“Just Sayin” - Art on 30th, San Diego, CA, 2015 [Juror: Erika Katayama, Mingei Museum]
“Birds, Blooms & Bugs" - Phoenix Airport Museum, 2013 - 2014
“All Art Arizona 2012” - Art Intersection Gallery, Gilbert, AZ, 2012
"Living in Arizona" - Herberger Theater Center, Phoenix, AZ, 2011
"End of an Era? Start of a New Age?" - Herberger Theater Center, Phoenix, AZ, 2011
"Shemer House of Fun" - Shemer Art Center & Museum, Phoenix, AZ, 2010 [Juror: Lennee Eller]
"Shemer Alive" - Shemer Art Center & Museum, Phoenix, AZ, 2010 [Juror: Dr. Earl Linderman]
"Western Eye Photography" - Eric Fischl Gallery, Phoenix College, Phoenix, AZ, 2009 [Juror: Mark Klett]
BIOGRAPHY
Diane has studied art at New York University, Scottsdale Artist’s School, Scottsdale Community College and Anderson Ranch in Colorado. She has both a BA degree and a MAT (Masters in Teaching Arts) degree from Simmons College, as well as a JD degree from Boston College Law School.
Diane is represented by Gebert Contemporary, 7160 Main Street, Scottsdale, AZ.
Diane’s work is in numerous private collections, including the LaoNiu Brothers & Sisters Foundation, Beijing, China and Found:Re Hotel, Phoenix, AZ.
AWARDS
‘Viva Magenta”, Art on 30th Gallery, San Diego, CA 2023 (Awarded “Best in Show”) “Blackout” – Ashton Gallery, San Diego, CA 2018 (Juror’s Choice Award) "Conversation Pieces 2011" - Phoenix Center for the Arts, Phoenix, AZ, 2011 (Second Place Award)
"Mixed Media Momentum" - BRIO Fine Arts Center, Scottsdale, AZ, 2010 [Juror: Pat Manarin] (First Place Award)
PUBLICATIONS
Superstition[Review], an online literary magazine, Issue 15, Spring 2015
Art American Art Collector, Juried Competition of New Work, Alcove Books, 2015
ARTiculate, Juried Competition, Scottsdale Community College Publication, 2015