Artist Statement
A frog jumps in the rain, a leaf quivers as the insect is swallowed, and the scent of wet foliage hangs in the air... Nature inspires my work and gives my life meaning; I explore the colors, shapes and textures of trees, flowers, animals, as well as human emotions and forms. I incorporate these elements in my work, creating playful interpretations that celebrate Mother Earth and rekindle the joy and respect I feel for the natural world. As I ponder the troubling aspects of our world, Art helps me process reality. I aim to honor nature and denounce the ills of our society and the travesty of its systems of power.
I spent decades living in Latin America, and I am humbled by the creativity of ancient and modern Mesoamerican artists. I work primarily in clay, fiber and oil paint, and my work is influenced by the popular arts of my native Mexico, where life as well as death are daily celebrations.
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Artist Bio:
Diana Tato was born in Mexico City in 1961 to a family where art was a daily bread; both her father was an illustrator and actor and her mother a singer and actor as well. Her maternal grandfather was a writer and opera singer. Diana spent her childhood years in Colombia and Mexico constantly traveling with her family wherever work would take them. She moved to New York City in 1986 after a devastating earthquake in Mexico City.
Her professional training in psychology and her career in social services infuse her artistic work with representations of human emotions. Her love and respect for nature can be seen in her images of flora and fauna playfully intermingling or sometimes clashing with human figures hinting at the assault on our planet and the pain and inequities of modern-day society.
Diana holds a Bachelor of Science in psychology from the University of Maryland Global Campus, and an Associate degree in studio art from Montgomery College, Rockville, MD. Soon to retire after decades of public service, Diana wants to pursue an MFA and focus on her advocacy efforts for more access to art education in low-income communities.
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