DeAnna Skedel

DeAnna Skedel has been an artist and professor in Kansas City since 2002 and is a current artist in residence at Englewood Arts in Independence Missouri. Her diverse, expansive studio practice resembles an act of cooking-a meditative process of infusion and maceration. DeAnna's artistic journey began with exhibitions at the Chio Craft Museum during her undergraduate studies. Her graduate experience at the School of the Art Institute of Chicago introduced her to theater work and led to notable projects, including the US/UK Contemporary Cast Iron Sculpture Project in England, Overflow/Fluids (LA Art Girls) at the Getty Museum in Los Angeles, and a native garden project in Voulx, France. She has received the Kansas City Avenue of the Arts award, participated in the Urban Culture Project, contributed to The Sixth Surface Steven Holl Lights the Nelson-Atkins Museum, and was an active member of Kansas City's Avodah chapter, a social Justice organization.

DeAnna has been recognized by her colleagues at Metropolitan Community College-Blue River with the Missouri Governor's Award for Excellence in Teaching, with students who fondly describe her as a blend of Mr. Miyagi and Bob Ross. Reflecting on her life, she says, "As an artist, academic, and a parent of neurodiverse teenagers, I navigate evolving social concems, teaching and learning styles, all while experiencing a shifting identity. At times, it feels like a 'puberty of maturity, where, despite societal invisibility and the many layers my roles add, my personal evolution is accelerating."

ARTIST STATEMENT

I collage eco-prints to embody the legacy of women whose artistry was often expressed through labor and caregiving. These layered works capture knowledge, emotions, and insights, much like inherited stories or cherished recipes passed down through generations. My pieces reflect and challenge social expectations, weaving natural and human-made materials into visual narratives rich with meaning.

Using eco-printing, ink-making, drawing, assembling, and collage, I build works that demand slowing down and engaging deeply with each material. Found objects-such as photographs, paper scraps, stains, and pencil marks-merge with organic elements to form intricate compositions. These materials are carefully layered, requiring observation and reflection, as they come together to mirror the cyclical nature of seasons and life.

My work is driven by a desire to uncover and share the narratives embedded in places, plants, and objects, as well as the often-muted voices of women. I see both natural and human-made objects as vessels tor stories that inform and inspire. Through this practice, I envision these pieces as recipes handed down through time, grounding me in the present and guiding me through this third phase of my life-a phase marked by instinctual wisdom, intuition, and a deep connection to nature. I seek guidance from women and the natural world as I navigate these transitions.

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