Donna Backues
Contact Information
Studio & Gallery
Philadelphia, PA
Please contact artist for purchases, commissions, etc.
Drawing/Painting
Landscapes
Cityscapes
Artist's Biography
Donna Backues has a BA in Studio Art and 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.
Donna began her career as a graphic designer and then moved to Indonesia in 1989 and lived for 18 years integrating her visual art skills with grass roots development work. She founded a village community health program and a community arts program. Her interest in indigenous art forms led to her co-founding a handicraft non-profit supporting local artisans in West Java as well as designing batik textiles and woven products for export. She also created 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 and finishing her MFA in 2010, Donna taught at the Village of Arts and Humanities, Mural Arts Philadelphia and 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 received an MA in Urban Studies with a concentration in Community Arts. Donna currently works at SEAMAAC, Inc. as the Coordinator of Community & Family Wellness serving the immigrant and refugee population in South Philadelphia where her years of cross-cultural experience, Indonesian language ability and community arts experience is regularly put to use.
Along with her community work, Donna continues to work as a studio artist. 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 Europe, Southeast Asia, Australia and New Zealand.
Artist's Statement
Imagined Landscapes
In this body of work, there are references to aerial landscapes, volcanoes, craters, bodies of water and land-based forms originally inspired by my years living in Southeast Asia. Some of my works are imaginary islands like inner landscapes of memory seen from above and others are emotional responses to specific events or historical paintings. They are all created with landscapes in mind.
Selected 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
Group
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
Artist's Bibliography
2016
Interview, “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
2015
Chenevert, Bill, "East Passyunk Crossing gets artsy," South Philly Review, March 5, 2015
Interviewed by Kartini Magazine, Jakarta, Indonesia
2014
Iman, Dhania, "Donna Backues Membatik," Voice of America Indonesia, Washington D.C., November 10, 2015
2014
"Seniman Amerika Ini Lestarikan Batik d Negaranya," National Geographic Indonesia, December 9, 2014
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
Publications
2017
Backues, Donna, "Lily and the Batik Dragon", Blurb Publishing
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
Awards, Grants, Fellowships & Opportunities
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
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
2016
Bungursari, West Java, Indonesia
SNIT (Sumbangsih Nuansa Indonesia)
2013 - 2018
Philadelphia Museum of Art, Philadelphia, PA
Art Futures Program
2013 - 2015
Spiral Q, Philadelphia, PA
2012
Fleisher Art Memorial, Philadelphia, PA
Cambodian Association
1994
Redpoint Gallery & Printmaking Studio, Bandung, Indonesia
Collections
Pennsylvania Convention Center, Philadelphia, PA
Dolan/Maxwell Gallery, Philadelphia, PA
Indonesian Embassy, Washington D.C.
Galeri Bandung, Bandung, West Java, Indonesia
Redpoint Studio/Gallery, Bandung, Indonesia
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
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
Recent Artist Member Mentions on InLiquid
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The Fellowship Annual Exhibition
First on view in person at HOT•BED gallery in November, The Fellowship of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts’ … See Full Post
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Landscape in Her Mind
In this body of work, there are references to landscapes – volcanoes, bodies of water and land-based forms inspired by … See Full Post
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“FAME 2017” at the PAFA Alumni Gallery, Historic Landmark Building
The Fellowship Annual Members Exhibition Congratulations to our 2017 FAME Exhibition ARTISTS! The awarded artists: The Fellowship Award of Excellence, Robert Ecker; The Berthe … See Full Post
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Donna Backues: Mixed Media @ Pennswood Art Gallery
Mixed Media Featuring work by InLiquid Artist Donna Backues Pennswood Art Gallery 382 Newtown Langhorne Rd, Newtown, PA About her … See Full Post
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InLiquid Artist Demonstration Saturdays @ Blick Art Materials
11/5 – Christopher T. Wood presenting Daydrawing 11/12 – Donna Backues presenting Mixed Watermedia abstraction 11/19 – Jeremy Sims presenting … See Full Post