Dameon Lester received his BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University, in sculpture, where he studied abroad at Loughborough College of Art and Design in the UK and Technikon Natal in South Africa. He later received his MFA from the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, engaging with many internationally recognized artists and critics as visiting faculty. He attended California State University, Los Angeles, in 2003 for his teaching credential and to pursue his MA in Special Education.
Dameon continues an active art practice, having received numerous grants, recognitions, and opportunities for more than a decade. He draws insight and perspective by working with special-needs children and adults, as well as working with highly gifted art students at Otis College of Art and Design in Los Angeles.
With his recent move to Austin, Texas, Dameon has been developing new work and establishing himself locally with a number of show appearances. He continues to exhibit in Los Angeles and Southern California, creating connections between the two cities.
REDUX
Group Exhibition
April 22 – 28, 2013
Reception Apr 26, time TBA
Desotorow Gallery
2427 De Soto Avenue
Savannah, GA 31401 desotorow.org
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Group Hug!!!
Group Exhibition
Mar 8 – 23, 2013 Opening Reception Mar 8, 7–10pm
The Flex Space @ Pump Project Satellite
1109 Shady Lane
Austin, TX 78721 pumpproject.org
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The People's Gallery
Group Exhibition
Feb 2013 – Jan 2014
Opening Reception Feb 22, 6 – 9pm
Austin City Hall
301 W. 2nd Street
Austin, TX 78701 austintexas.gov
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Shortlisted...
Dameon's work will be considered for a possible residency, to be awarded for the 2014 program year. More information will be announced as it becomes available.
Artpace
International Artist-in-Residency Program
San Antonio, TX artpace.org
My latest forms make use of elemental materials and shapes in which we all have associations stemming from our earliest memories. For many, the familiarity of these materials and shapes become an accessible point for the artwork.
These particular works are derived from the circle, a fundamental shape found in fine art, design and nature. The art develops from the repetitive manipulation of the circle loosely resembling growth patterns of the most basic structures and microscopic forms.
Simple shapes and use of material expands on our own childhood references, giving way to the associations and narratives of our adult consciousness, and as a result, our beliefs.
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West Austin Studio Tour
May 19 – 20, 2012
grayDUCK Gallery
Austin, TX
Austin HOME
Winter 2012 State of the Arts, p75 austinhome.com
... often makes his own natural materials in a form that is reminiscent of the natural world. He has an astounding range of detailed work, from works on canvas to sculpture. Expect to see bright colors and lots of geometric patterns and shapes with soft, sometimes fuzzy forms.
— Kate Harrington, Austin HOME
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ART for CLARE
CLARE Foundation’s 6th Annual Silent Auction
Jun 10, 2012, 1 – 4pm
I’m A Frayed Knot
Group Exhibition
Feb 11 – Mar 17, 2012
Opening Reception Feb 11, 6 – 10pm
Frank M. Doyle Arts Pavilion
Orange Coast College
2701 Fairview Road
Costa Mesa, CA 92626
714.432.5102 occartspavilion.com
A major thread that ties this entire exhibition together is the fact that all of these artworks take an immense amount of time and energy to create. All of these artists are pushing the intended or physical limits of their chosen materials, and they are using these materials to communicate compelling, often personal, narratives.
— Andrea Harris, Co-Curator and Pavilion Director
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BIG and BRIGHT: New Work from Texas
Group Exhibition
Jan 26 – Feb 21, 2012
Opening Reception Jan 26, 11am – 1pm + 6 – 8pm
The Southwestern College Art Gallery presents “Big and Bright: New Work from Texas”, curated by Jessica McCambly. With the title taken from the song, “Deep in the Heart of Texas”, this exhibition is a regional survey that highlights the diverse range of work being created in Texas today.
Unnatural Process presents some of Lester’s newest sculptural work in conjunction with the most recent evolution of his sculptural drawings. Using long strands of metal and felt, Lester meticulously knits biomorphic forms that evoke images of nature with a sometimes endearing and sometimes uneasy twist. The accompanying drawings are translations of these forms laser etched into felt mounted on panels.
Many processes come together in the creation of these pieces including the manufacturing of natural materials which culminates in the various processes the artist uses to finalize the form. Felt and metal were some of the first and most important materials to be manipulated by man and Lester takes an unusual approach to them by using various methods which are at opposite ends of the technological spectrum. These vary from labor intensive hand knitting to the machine generated, thereby accentuating this relationship between the natural and man-made. This contrast of the laboring of the hand and the use of mechanized methods of production scratches at a theme that underlies all of Lester’s work: the human disconnect with nature and thereby ourselves.
Robert Apodaca
Curator & Gallery Owner
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Unnatural Process
Jan 8 – Feb 27, 2011
Fifth Floor Gallery
Chinatown, Los Angeles, CA
Dameon Lester’s fuzzy creations are seemingly contradicting the normal hard edge approach to geometric shapes. Each object has a life of its own and I love how some of the objects cast shadows that play along the wall.
— Todd Camplin, Mod Austin
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Interview with Dameon Lester
Read: Art Czar
Austin, TX
“Ethnocentric” refers to the belief that one’s cultural group is centrally important, and that all other groups are measured in relation to one’s own. The title loosely references the human race as a singular culture and it is with this mentality that we have separated ourselves from the natural environment.
— Dameon Lester
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ART for CLARE
CLARE Foundation’s 5th Annual Silent Auction
Jun 12, 2011, 1 – 4pm
“Despite the geographical framework that OsCene 2010 takes on, it’s exciting to see the range of artists in this exhibition with diverse backgrounds and practices. There will definitely be some threads of dialogue between these different artists and their works,” said curator Grace Kook-Anderson.
— OC Art Blog
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Kunstmilch Presents: Dameon Lester
Solo Exhibition
Display Case Reutilization Project
Feb 22 – Feb 28, 2010
Closing Reception Feb 28, 5 – 9pm
California State University
Long Beach, CA 90815
Fine Arts, Building 3 art.csulb.edu
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CURATE THIS!
Participating Artist
BECA: Bridge for Emerging Contemporary Art Online Exhibition
artwork at 0:52 of video
Artwork selected to appear in "CURATE THIS! 2010 — New Art" publication by Helen Pheby, PhD, Curator of Yorkshire Sculpture Park.
The Ethnocentric Nature of Line questions our cultural insistence over nature. By simulating natural forms with line through a repetitive method of production, I focus my contemplation, in an attempt to discern the imbalance within ourselves and with nature.
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The Ethnocentric Nature of Line
Sept 17 – Oct 30, 2009
Irvine Valley College Art Gallery
Irvine, CA
