Artist Statement

In my work there are references to aerial landscapes, volcanoes, craters, bodies of water and land-based forms inspired by places lived or visited. Some of my works are imaginary islands or clouds like inner landscapes of memory seen from above and others are responses to specific current events current, history, historical masterpieces. Most of my works are created with landscapes in mind beginning with washes of ink or paint and then “molded” with mark-making.

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Artist Biography

Donna Backues has a BA in Studio Art & Graphic Design from Southern Illinois University, an MFA from The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and an MA in Urban Studies & Community Arts, from Eastern University.

After graduating from Southern Illinois University, Donna worked as a graphic designer for several years. In 1989 she moved to Indonesia and lived for 18 years working as a studio artist and as a grass-roots development worker in West Java for a nongovernment organization. She founded a village preventative health program, a community arts program and co-founded a handicraft program supporting local artisans as well as designing batik textiles and woven products for export. She also designed illustrations, manuals, and teaching aids for development projects including materials used in relief efforts during the aftermath of the 2004 Asian Tsunami.

After returning to the US in 2007 and finishing her MFA in 2010, Donna taught at the Village of Arts and Humanities, Mural Arts Philadelphia, and the Fleisher Art Memorial. She has been awarded numerous artist residencies through the Philadelphia Art Museum’s Delphi Art Futures and Art Partners program, Spiral Q, and Rutgers Camden Center for the Arts. In 2013 Donna won first prize in the American Batik Design Competition, in 2014 she was awarded the Art & Change Grant by the Leeway foundation and in 2017 she was awarded the NewCourtland Fellowship.

In 2018 Donna finished her MA in Urban Studies & Community Arts. She currently works at SEAMAAC as the Coordinator of Community & Family Wellness serving the immigrant and refugee populations in South Philadelphia where her years of cross-cultural experience, Indonesian language ability and community arts experience is regularly used. Donna continues to create art and exhibits regularly. Four of her paintings are in the Philadelphia Convention Center’s permanent collection. Her public murals can be seen in Philadelphia, Camden New Jersey and in Leeds, England. Her paintings have been collected and exhibited internationally in the US, Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.

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Education

2018
Eastern University, St. Davids, PA
MA, Urban Studies in Community Arts

2010
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
MFA

1985
Southern Illinois University, Edwardsville, IL
BA, Graphic Design & Studio Art

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Awards & Honors

2018
Eastern University, St. David's PA
Outstanding Graduate Thesis Award Honorable Mention

2017 - 2018
Philadelphia International Unity Cup Art Grant, City of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

2017
Shared Interest Grant for Artists, Elysian Fields and Little Baby's Ice Cream

Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia, PA
NewCourtland Fellowship

2016
Call for Pennsylvania Artists, 4 paintings purchased by the Philadelphia Convention Center Authority

2014
Leeway Foundation, Philadelphia, PA
Art & Change Award

2013
American Batik Design Competition 2013, Washington, D.C.
First Place Winner

2007
Red Point Gallery, Bandung, Indonesia
Visiting Artist Demonstration

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Residencies

2018
Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
Cambodian Association

Rutgers University, Camden, NJ
Rutgers Camden Center for the Arts

NewCourtland Center, Philadelphia, PA
LIFE Program

2017
Rutgers University, Camden, NJ
Rutgers Camden Center for the Arts

SEAMAAC, Philadelphia, PA
Community Outreach Center

2016
Bungursari, West Java, Indonesia
SNIT (Sumbangsih Nuansa Indonesia)

2013 - 2016
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Art Futures Program

2014 - 2015
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Wednesday Program

2013 - 2015
Spiral Q, Philadelphia, PA

2012
Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
Cambodian Association

1994
Redpoint Gallery and Printmaking Studio, Bandung, Indonesia

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Bibliography

2018
Artist Videos at Pennsylvania Convention Center

‍2015
Article in Jakarta Post. October 31. American Artist, Student, and Professor Win Batik Design Competition.

Chenevert, Bill, "East Passyunk Crossing gets Artsy," South Philly Review, March 5, 2015

Iman, Dhania, "Donna Backues Membatik," Voice of America Indonesia, Washington D.C., November 10, 2015

2016
“Donna bantu anak kehilangan trauma," Metro TV, Jakarta, Indonesia, July 22.

"Donna bule asal usa ajak anak lawan trauma," RADAR Television News, Tasikmalya, Indonesia

"Murid di Madrasah Ikuti Workshop Art Camp for Health," Radar Tasikmalaya, July 19

"Donna Backues: Seniman Batik Amerika di Philadelphia," Voice of America Feature Video

Interviewed by Kartini Magazine, Jakarta, Indonesia

"Seniman Amerika Ini Lestarikan Batik d Negaranya," National Geographic Indonesia, December 9, 2014

‍2014
Interview by Voice of America, November 25. Seniman Donna Backues Lestarikan Batik Indonesia di Amerika. R. F. Azanur, Interviewer

Article in National Geographic Indonesia, December 8. Seniman Amerika Ini Lestarikan Batik di Negaranya. Retrieved from National Geographic Indonesia

Interview for Bloomberg TV, Jakarta, Indonesia, American Batik Design Exhibit at Plaza Indonesia

2013
"American Artist, Student, and Professor Win Batik Design Competition," The Jakarta Post World News, October 31,2013

2007
"Interview & Demonstration of Water based Monotype Technique with commentary by artist Suhardi Soedarsono" Padjadjaran Television, Bandung, January 21, 2007

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Print Media

2017
Backues, Donna, "Lily and the Batik Dragon", Blurb Publishing

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Collections

Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA
FMC Tower at Cira Centre South, Philadelphia, PA
Dolan/Maxwell Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Indonesian Embassy, Washington D.C.
Galeri Bandung, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
Redpoint Studio/Gallery, Bandung, Indonesia

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Commissions

2016
Large mural for the Camden County Historical Museum, Camden, NJ

2014
Redesign & repainting of Lily Yeh's "Magic Garden" mural, Village of the Arts & Humanities, Philadelphia, PA

2012
Window scrim murals for the Septa Substation on 13th & East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

2011
Illustrations for the Shot Tower Park signage for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation, Philadelphia, PA

2006
Illustrated teaching aids for the Elementary School Literacy program in Aceh, Indonesia

2005
Coloring book for Acehnese children during the Asian Tsunami relief efforts, Indonesia

2002
Two murals for Dine China Restaurant, Leeds, UK

Three murals for Little Tokyo Restaurant, Leeds, UK

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Professional Experience

2011 - 2016
The Village of Arts & Humanities, Philadelphia, PA
Studio Arts Instructor

2012 - 2013
KIPP Academy Charter, Philadelphia, PA
Art Teacher

2010 - 2011
Mural Arts Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA
Lead Teaching Artist

2010
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Summer Art Camp Instructor

Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Graduate Assistant in Drawing

1996 - 2007
Bamboo Hill Academy International School, Tasikmalaya, Indonesia
Art Teacher

1990 - 1991
Dana Mulia Orphanage, Bandung West Java, Indonesia
Art Teacher

Exhibitions

Solo‍

2017
Imagined Landscapes, Pennswood Gallery, Newtown, PA

2008
Recollections, McInnis Gallery, Eastern University, St. David’s, PA

2007
Monotypes, Redpoint Gallery, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia

1995
Watercolors II, Galeri Bandung, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia

1994
Watercolors I, Centre Culturel Francais, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia

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Group‍

2023
Glass House & Meddow, 3-person show, InLiquid Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2022
2022 Fellowship of PAFA, Philadelphia Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA
Juror: Audrey Flack

2021
Up Against a Wall, Awbury Arboretum Cope House, Philadelphia, PA

2020
Fall Group Show, Schmidt/Dean Gallery, Cherry Hill, NJ

2020 Fellowship of PAFA, Hot-Bed Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2019
Downriver in the Multiverse, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA

Camden: Past, Present Future Exhibition, Rutgers' Stedman Gallery, Camdem, NJ

2018
West Wing Art Collection, Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA

Art is Ageless, NewCourtland Senior Community at St. Bart's, Philadelphia, PA

2017
Fame, Philadelphia Academy of the Fine Arts Alumni Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

Q Artists Group Show, Spiral Q Gallery, Philadelphia, PA

2016
Two Philly Artists, The Monkey & the Elephant, Philadelphia, PA

2015
Holiday Show, Center for Emerging Visual Artists, Philadelphia, PA

2014
Dear Fleisher, Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA

American Batik Design Exhibit, Alleira Batik, Plaza Indonesia, Jakarta

Group Mural Artists, The Hall, Inliquid at Crane Arts, Philadelphia, PA

Philadelphia Artists, Gallery of the Chambers of Commerce, Philadelphia, PA

2013
American Batik Design Exhibit, Mandarin Oriental Hotel, Washington D.C.

Score & Slip, Marguerita Hagan & Pierre Trombert Studios, Philadelphia, PA

Backpack Gallery Installation, 30th Street Station, Philadelphia, PA

2010
Inaugural Exhbition, Studio: Christensen, Philadelphia, PA

Selections from the 109th Annual Student Exhibit, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Women’s Board, Philadelphia, PA

MFA Thesis Exhibition, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA

2001
The Figure Drawn, Leeds Central Library Gallery, Leeds, England

2000
Pelukis Dari Bandung, Galeri Bandung, W. Java, Indonesia

1999
Tasikmalaya Artist Group, Gedung Kesenian, Tasikmalaya, W. Java, Indonesia

1998
Tasikmalaya Artist Group, Surya Hotel, Pangandaran, W. Java, Indonesia

1984
Selected Works, Southern Illinois University Gallery, Edwardsville, IL

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Awards, Grants, Fellowships, and Opportunities

2018
Outstanding Grad Thesis Award, Honorable Mention, Eastern Univ., PA

Organizational Impact Award, SEAMAAC, Philadelphia, PA

2017/2018
Philadelphia International Unity Cup Art Grant, Philadelphia, PA

2017
Shared Interest Grant for Artists, Elysian Fields and Little Baby's Ice Cream

NewCourtland Fellowship, Center for Emerging Artists, Philadelphia, PA

2016
Call for PA Artists, 4 paintings purchased by the Philadelphia Convention Center

2014
2014 Art & Change Award, Leeway Foundation, Philadelphia, PA

2013
American Batik Design Competition 2013, First Place Winner, Wash. D.C.

2007
Visiting artist demonstration, Red Point Gallery, Bandung, Indonesia

Commissions

2020
Illustration for large interactive display at Camden City Hall, Camden, NJ

2016
Large mural for the Camden County Historical Museum, Camden, NJ

2014
Repainting of Lily Yeh’s “Magic Garden” mural, Village of the Arts & Humanities, Philadelphia, PA

2012
Window murals for on 13th & East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA

2011
Illustrations for Shot Tower Park signage for Philadelphia Parks & Recreation

2006
Illustrated teaching aids for the Literacy program in Aceh, Indonesia

2005
Coloring book for children during the Asian Tsunami relief efforts, Indonesia

2002
Two murals for Dine China Restaurant, Leeds, UK

Three murals for Little Tokyo Restaurant, Leeds, UK

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Art Teaching

2011-2016
Arts Instructor, The Village of Arts & Humanities, Philadelphia, PA

2012-2013
Art Teacher, KIPP Academy Charter, Philadelphia, PA

2010-2011
Lead Teaching Artist, Mural Arts Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA

2010
Summer Art Instructor, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia, PA

2010
Graduate Assistant, Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, Philadelphia

1996-2007
Art Teacher, Bamboo Hill Academy International School, Indonesia

1990-1991
Art Teacher, Dana Mulia Orphanage, Bandung West Java, Indonesia

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