DEREK RAYMOND is a graphic designer and self-taught mixed media artist living and working between Massachusetts and Rhode Island. He holds a BS in Graphic Design & Digital Media. Derek’s work is largely informed by the rudimentary aspects of graffiti, with an emphasis on abstracting and manipulating the unrefined qualities of both vandalism and vandalism removal processes.

This work is an ongoing study and abstraction of the visual exchanges and ongoing dialogues that live and evolve among us. The most recent evolution of this body is being created with direct reference to the concepts of (meaningful) discomfort, spiritual purging/cleansing, and absolution.

Characterized by an equally ethereal and filthy quality, his artwork nods to the process of erasure while subtle but striking elements and textures bring a sense of dynamism to the compositions. His work is tactfully made with the intention of challenging viewers to embrace their impermanence and humility, and to find the perpetual cosmic opportunity for transformation and renewal.

In continuation with his first solo exhibition at Curation 250 titled “I WANT TO LIVE,” Derek Raymond’s upcoming exhibition “HAPPY TO BE HERE” is a deeper exploration into reshaping the gaze, challenging our perception and reviving our connection with the spaces we inhabit. These works aim to unveil hidden narratives within the urban landscape and question the conventional notions of vandalism. An alchemist of perception, Derek offers all new works that transcend their initial context and emerge as powerful statements on the relationship between art and the surrounding world. Each piece stands as a testament to the indomitable human spirit that seeks to reclaim and redefine.

Channeling the rudimentary aesthetics of vandalism, advertising, and urban decay, this exhibition was curated with a focus on the ephemeral nature of street art as it parallels with the nature of ourselves. Combos of painting, wheatpasting, photography, sculpture, and collaging nod to vandalism-inspired motifs and their erasure and deterioration over time. The results are layered and textured compositions that offer an opportunity to reconsider the communication and role of art in the urban tapestry and its more profound implications.