DAWN WHEAT

Dawn Wheat grew up near the edge of Cedar Rapids, Iowa, on fifteen acres that was an artist studio, a tree nursery, and also a hobby farm. Her mother was a wildlife painter, and her father taught horticulture at a near-by community college; As a result, she started painting as a very young child.

In 1998 Dawn graduated with a BA degree in Art from the University of Northern Iowa.

From 2000 until the end of 2007, she lived in Chicago and worked as a graphic designer. For over four years she was a freelance designer and worked on projects for nation-wide brands like Sharpie Markers, Aldi Grocery Stores and Lowes. She was also involved with several art galleries and art organizations in the Chicago-area.

In 2008 she returned to the country house near Cedar Rapids where she spent her childhood for the last time. As her parents prepared to sell it and the Cedar Rapids / Iowa City area was effected by a historical flood, Dawn took many photographs of the trees and plants. She gathered weeds from the ditch at the dead end road, and photographed each as individuals. The next day she returned to the same roadside only to find that the neighbor had mowed down the intrusive weeds. What she thought was beautiful, was a nuisance to others. These images became the basis of her current painting series “The Garden.”

In the fall of 2008, due to the record mid-west flooding, Dawn relocated to New Mexico. She currently resides in Albuquerque.

To see more of her work, please visit www.dawnwheat.com.