About Us

Queens, New York native Donna Ladson views her passion for art as a gift from God that inspires creative expression in what she calls “Life's Textures”. After spending years in the corporate sector and raising a family with her husband, Donna has returned to her artistic roots, from which she has created signature paintings and quilts . As a high school student, she was in an intensive specialized art program which allowed her to explore the many different areas of art expression. Majoring in Early Childhood Education in college Donna felt her artistic talent and knowledge would be an asset to the classroom. She used that same passion while teaching art in summer youth and after school programs. As an adult, she studied art history in some of the world’s most renowned museums. This long time Picasso enthusiast, finds inspiration through extensive travel, photographs, family or complete strangers to paint or quilt her dynamic work. Donna's appreciation of the vast array of “The Arts” have taken her from performing in off broadway plays, including New York's Apollo theater to the creation of the international persona of "D'ARTIST". Currently D’Artist presents her creations in a series believing her art should tell an entire story that one picture can’t always capture. Within each series, she may convey a present mood, an in depth reflection or vision for the future.

This self-taught quilter, Donna reaches into her ancestral roots to tell colorful personalized stories in an assortment of rare quilt designs. Like a visual mosaic, she uses fabrics from around the world, always including a swatch from one of her beloved father’s ties in celebration of his extraordinary life. She also constructs six-panel wooden hand painted room dividers overflowing with crisp color and unfathomable dimension. Most recently, she has once again infused her travel experience along with her life-long love for children, to impregnate her with a “Bubble Babees” series featuring individual pictures of children of various ethnicities on petite 6x6 canvases. In addition she commemorated Brazil with a series of acrylic paintings on burlap canvases that was featured in Tribeca, New York and to be shown in Rio De Janiero, Brazil. D’Artist celebrated the “World Cup 2014” with a series of Abstract Soccer Images.

In 2012 visitors of the Leroy Neiman Art Center in Harlem, New York experienced the magnificent work of D “Artist”. AARP recognized her as one of the organization’s promising artist re-entering the art world and sold one of her pieces on the first night of a month long display. AARP then selcted D "Artist" to be their featured artist in their "Life Reimagined" Program at the 2015 Harlem Fine Arts Show, NYC. For two consecutive years, Donna holds the distinct honor, of being selected by her mentor, esteemed artist, Otto Neals, to display her work in his Brooklyn, New York studio. Currently, she exhibits her work in galleries, retail stores, festivals, cultural events and is available for private showings in the US and abroad. Donna reaches her greatest aspiration, when her art, tells a universal story so captivating that it becomes a treasured piece in someone’s personal art collection. These compelling connections embody the true creative experience for Donna “D’Artist” and spark her continued creative genius.