about.

Artist | Biologist| Feminist | Environmentalist

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STATEMENT: ​​

As a conservation biologist, my art practice centers on scientific research. The work engages in critical narratives surrounding the environment and shifting landscapes, together with female perspectives of the inequalities of society.  The domination of women and the degradation of the environment are consequences of the patriarchy and capitalism.

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I infuse natural materials with industrial and found objects as a deliberate choice that helps entrench human activity as the driver for the discourse of my work. Foraging for found objects helps reduce my environmental footprint by steering

clear of generating needless waste, while also connecting me to the world around me.

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Einstein said “If you want children to be intelligent, read them fairy tales”. I create endearing visual allegories that evoke wonder, the awe of nature and faith in humanity that defends the marginalized and endangered. The art is immersive, playful, and fosters curiosity, encouraging an appreciation for the possibilities it presents

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BIOGRAPHY

Born: Clearfield, PA

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Diane Arrieta was born and raised in Pennsylvania, where her upbringing in Oil City - a town with a rich history as a former Seneca Indian Village turned center for the petroleum industry - greatly influenced her beliefs and subsequently, her art practice. Arrieta's heritage as a Native American and descendant of European immigrant farmers from Czechoslovakia shaped her perspectives on nature and environmental stewardship from a young age.

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Having obtained a BFA in ceramic sculpture and an MSc in Wildlife Health from

the University of Edinburgh, Arrieta's artwork primarily explores the impact of human activity on endangered species and champions the role of women and children in society. Her work has been exhibited extensively across the United

States and the United Kingdom, with notable showcases at prominent museums

such as the Cornell Museum of Art, The NSU Art Museum Fort Lauderdale, The

Boca Raton Museum, and the Museum of Fine Art Tallahassee.

 

Arrieta has received numerous accolades, including the South Florida Cultural Consortium Fellowship Grant and the Hector Ubertalli Award for the Visual Arts. In addition to serving on public art committees and running a University exhibition program, she is also the founding Director of the International Humanities Project Curatorial Lab. Arrieta's main art studio is located in Palm Beach, FL, and she spends part of her summers at her studio in Yonkers, NY.

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Education:​

MSc   Wildlife Health University of Edinburgh

         College of Medicine and Veterinary Medicine 

         United Kingdom

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BFA   Ceramic Sculpture Florida Atlantic University

         Boca Raton, FL 

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