Hi there.
I’m Desirée, a visual artist based in Cheyenne, Wyoming. I’ve been a practicing artist for 25+ years, working in an array of mediums to achieve my desired level of play, experimentation and variety in creation.
As a child, I developed an active imagination and a love of reading that helped to define my surroundings and disperse the solitude of playing by myself. Over time, my artwork has come to reflect these early experiences, and includes symbolism from fables, storytelling and imagination. It often centers around birds and feminine forms, which are used metaphorically and symbolically to discuss the realities of living in our current, adult world. Themes of depression and dystopian humanity are often the central meaning behind many of my pieces, but commentary on ‘sense of place’ is also frequent. By utilizing combinations of printmaking, acrylic paint, watercolor, and sculpture alongside illustration, my hope is to engage our community in understanding the long-term felt effects that shared stories have on us, and how they frame our way of thinking into the future.
Professionally, I serve as the Executive Director of Arts Cheyenne, our local arts council, as well the Curator for the Cheyenne Depot Museum. I am also secretary on the Wyoming Arts Alliance board, an organization dedicated to arts advocacy.
Exhibitions and Features
‘Feelings’ | Western Spirit Art Show Group Exhibition, Cheyenne Frontier Days Old West Museum | Spring, 2026
‘Paradise and the Fountain of Youth’, ‘The Return’ | mixed media sculpture | ‘In the Garden’ Group Exhibition, Clay Paper Scissors | March/April 2025
“Rendezvous” Annual Show | ‘Us & Them’, mixed media on paper | Group Exhibition, Clay Paper Scissors | July/August, 2024
‘Unitarian Vegetables’ and ‘Gardner’s Shadow’, Linocut on handmade paper | ‘In the Garden’ Group Exhibition, Clay Paper Scissors | March/April, 2024
Kestrel Fields Studios Artist in Residence | January 14-21, 2024
“Memory Birds” | Solo exhibition, Freedom’s Edge Brewing | November, 2023
“Creature Feature” | Exhibition participation at the Cheyenne Creativity Center | October, 2023
“Printmaking Exhibition” | Exhibition participation at the Cheyenne Creativity Center | June, 2023
“May Flowers” | Exhibition participation at the Cheyenne Creativity Center | May, 2023
“Spark of Inspiration” | Exhibition participation at the Cheyenne Creativity Center | February, 2023
“MC Wonder’s Fantastical Traveling Treasures” –Contributing Artist | Immersive installation | June, 2022- December, 2023
“Memory Birds” | Artist Resident at Cheyenne Botanic Gardens | September-November, 2022
“Monster Men” | Solo exhibition, Freedom’s Edge Brewing | October, 2021
“Ladies and Birdies” | Solo exhibition, Paramount Gallery | May, 2021
Local Stories with Shoutout Colorado | April, 2021
Local Stories with Voyage Denver | May, 2016
“Different Points” | Solo exhibition, Paramount Gallery | May, 2020
“Gary and Tom”–‘Best in Mixed Media’ | Annual Student Exhibition | Mariani Gallery, University of Northern Colorado, Spring, 2010
Resume
Curator | Cheyenne Depot Museum | 2026-Present
Executive Director | Arts Cheyenne | 2023-Present
Assistant Director | Arts Cheyenne | 2023-2024
Public Art Coordinator | Arts Cheyenne | 2021-2023
Creative Projects Director | Cheyenne Downtown Development Authority | 2022-2023
Wyoming Arts Alliance Board Member | 2024-Present
Growth Foundry/Makers+Creatives Board Member | 2020-2023
WyArt Coalition Co-founder | 2019-2021
Arts Cheyenne Board Chair | 2018-2021
Arts Cheyenne Board Member | 2016-2023
BA Art Education, Emphasis in Drawing | University of Northern Colorado | 2009
MAGPIe. 