Del Bey is an artist and arts educator whose work deals with the intangibility of meaning and the slipperiness of language. She has a background of documentary photography addressing social issues and exploring the boundaries of experimental photography.
Photography is used to document the imprint of history on today. By photographing blues legends in Chicago in the 1990s, Civil Rights leaders in the 2000s, or reflecting on the 21st Century housing crisis in Chicago, her work demonstrates the enduring legacy of coping with and resisting racism in the United States.
Her portraits heroize the people who have played important roles in these movements. The images are often accompanied by interviews, which allow the subjects’ crucial stories to be told in full. As the cycle of racism continues, documenting the change and successes of the past can offer a roadmap for the future.
Del Bey is an artist and arts educator whose work deals with the intangibility of meaning and the slipperiness of language. Coming from a background of documentary photography addressing social issues, She is now addressing the same issues more abstractly through ceramics.
In Twisted Ceramics, locally sourced Minnesota Split Rock clay is used to create vessels with organic forms in earth tones and metallic colors. The pieces themselves have layers of meaning through a juxtaposition of organic and inorganic by weaving in hand dyed silk, chains, and charms.
Each piece is twisted, woven, and marbleized the way language and meaning are manipulated, even in our quotidian interactions. Whether simple misunderstanding or active deception, communications are never pure; there is always an act of translation.
CV
Education
M.Ed, Arts in Education, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
MFA, Photography, University of Illinois at Chicago, Chicago, IL
BFA, Photography and Fiber Arts, School of the Art Institute, Chicago, IL
Selected Group Exhibitions
2024 Pathways: Collaboration, Community, Clay, Northern Clay Center
2024 The Skin Exhibit, Fresh Eye Gallery, Curator Christopher E. Harrison
2024 Homewood Photo Collective Group Exhibition; Curator Jack Mader
2024 Gamut Gallery’s C4W:2024 Exhibition; Curator, Brant Kingman
2024 SoCal Film Awards - Film Festival - Experimental Category
2023 Franconia Sculpture Park's 5-Minute Film Festival, Honorable Mention
2023 Our Souls Shine Bright, Cargill Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
2022 The Fearless Artist Pop-Up Exhibition, Ideal Glass House, New York, NY
2001 Civil Rights Struggle: Portrait Narratives, MN Civil Rights Workers,
The MN Center for Photography, Minneapolis, MN
2000-05 Home Sweet Home, Family Housing Fund, Minneapolis, MN
1997-2000 Group Show, Anderson Window Company, Bayport, MN
1998 Visions From Within, Intermedia Arts, Minneapolis, MN
1997 The St. Paul Art Crawl, Lowertown Lofts, St. Paul, MN
1997 The Visible Soul: Revealing the Spiritual, School of the Art Institute of
Chicago, Chicago, IL
1996 Diversity Art Works, Hennepin County Government Center,
Minneapolis, MN
1995 Hot Spots, Parts Gallery, Minneapolis, MN
1995 Black Creativity/Defining Who We Are, The Paul Whitney Larson Gallery,
University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN
Solo Exhibitions
1996 Dreams, Myths, and Reality, Bethesda Lutheran Medical Center,
St. Paul, MN
1995 The Chicago Blues Scene, Ginkgo Coffee House, St. Paul, MN
1991 Cuba 91, South Shore Library, Chicago, IL
Public Talks
2002 Artist Talk, Normandale Community College, Bloomington, MN
2001 Artist Talk, Minnesota Center for Photography, Minneapolis, MN
Publications
1994 “Black Global Public Spheres,” Public Culture Society for Transnational
Cultural Studies, Volume 7, Number 1
1994-93 Ebony Magazine: Editorial work - Photographed Minneapolis
Broadcaster; Roxanne Battle, high school seniors, and public events.
Collections
3M, St. Paul, MN
Family Housing Fund, Minneapolis, MN
Teaching Experience
Present-2006 K-12 Visual Art Teacher, Minneapolis Public Schools , MN
1996-2000 Art-in-Education Roster, State Arts Board, St. Paul
2000 Photo and fabric painting workshops, Walker Art Center,
2000 Artist-in-Residence, St. Anne School, Wabaso, MN
1999 Four Winds School Extended Day Program, Phillips Community TV
Program, City, State
1999 Whittier Arts and Communications School, Minneapolis, MN
1999 Sheridan Global Arts School, Minneapolis, MN
1998 Windom Open School, Minneapolis, MN
1997 Summer Art Camp, Starring Lake, Eden Prairie
1997 Artstop Community Workshops, Powderhorn Park, City, State
1997 Minnesota Scholastic Arts Workshop, Minneapolis College of Art and Design
1996 Vision Quest, Trade River Retreat Center, Hudson, WI
1995-6 Midwest Media Access Center, St. Paul, MN
Academic Service
2014-2011 Professional Learning Community
PDP Lead Coordinator, Field Community Middle School
2009-2013 School News Coordinator, Field Community Middle School,
Minneapolis, MN
2008-2012 Arts for Academic Achievement Coordinator, Field Community
Middle School, Minneapolis, MN
Professional Affiliations
Minnesota Women Ceramic Artists
National Art Education Association
National Council on Education for the Ceramic Arts (NCECA)
Contact
