About the Artist
Valarie Davis
Artist Statement
As an artist, I am often inspired by the relationships between cultures, how women are viewed in our society, race, and socioeconomics. In my works, I try to convey a message to the viewer, that regardless of one’s ideologies, race, culture, and financial status, that we all come into life the same and leave the same.
I want the viewer to understand that due to circumstances that may be beyond our control that our stories may differ from place to place. My intent is to show my audience my works of art that depict these various stories that hopefully make us all a little more understanding, tolerant, and less fearful of each other and ultimately, respect each other.
Mission Statement
I want the viewer to engage themselves with my subject and process. I use the mediums of paint and clay to help me illustrate the variety of topics I feel are dear to my heart. Using these materials allows the beauty of the paint or form to look forward and intrusive. I will create to educate life experiences and the mindfulness of others.
Art Exhibitions/Commissions
Group Show, The Scarab Club, Scarab Club Arts Annual Exhibition, Juried by Shirley Woodson, Detroit, MI, November 19, 2021 – January 31, 2022
Group Show, Detroit Artist Market, All Media Exhibition, Juried by Valerie Mercer, Curator of African American Art, The Detroit Institute of Arts, Detroit, MI August 13 - September 11, 2021
Group Show, Artavita.com, virtual exhibition "Covid Dreams", November 16, 2020
Group Show, Detroit Artist Market, All Media Exhibition, Juried by Dr. Hubert Massey, Detroit, MI December 17, 2019 - January 18, 2020
Group Show, Grosse Pointe War Memorial, A Personal Journey, Grosse Pointe, MI November 15 -December 8, 2019
Group Show, Riverside Arts Center, “CitizenSHIP” Ypsilanti, MI, August 3 - 30, 2019
Featured Artist (solo show), Valaria's Studio Art Gallery, Detroit, MI November 1 - December 31, 2017
Group Show, Ann Arbor Art Center, “Never Broken”, Ann Arbor, MI September 22 - October 1, 2016
Group Show, Grosse Pointe Artist Association, Grosse Pointe, MI, October - November 2015
Featured Artist (solo show); Michigan Women's Historical Center & Hall of Fame, 'My Journey', Lansing, MI February 3 - April 27, 2013
Group Show; Richard Bennett Studio Gallery, “Midtown Majic”, Detroit, MI, October 4 - December 30, 2012
Group Show: Center For Creative Studies, Alumni Exhibition, Juried by George N'nmadi - (Honorable Mention) April 13 - May 25, 2012
Selected Artist: International Contemporary Artist Vol. III, Athens Greece, November 2011
Selected Artist: Wayne County Guardian Arts Program, Detroit, MI, September 2011
Featured Artist: Center For Creative Studies, Alumni News Web Page, Detroit, MI, July 15, 2011
Participating Artist: Indian Village - Home and Garden/ Art Fair, Detroit, MI, June 2010
Selected Artist: Here and Now-Emerging Artist In Michigan, Eastpointe, MI, November, 2009
Featured Artist: Summer Show, Valaria's Studio Art Gallery, Inc., Detroit, MI, August 2009
Participating Artist: Indian Village - Home and Garden/ Art Fair, Detroit, MI, June 2009
Alumni Group Show (Juried), Center For Creative Studies, Detroit, MI, October 2008
Ceramic Group Show (Juried), Detroit Artist Market Gallery, Detroit, MI, August 2008
Selected by the Frederick Marshall Sculpture Museum Gift Store to provide custom ceramic tiles, pottery, and crafts, Saginaw, MI, August 2008
Participating Artist: Indian Village - Home and Garden/ Art Fair, Detroit, MI, June 2008
Featured Artist: Winter Show, Valaria's Studio Art Gallery, Inc., Detroit, MI, March 2008
Commissioned by Fire Water II restaurant to create custom exterior mosaic tile wall design, Detroit, MI, September 2007
Selected by the Charles H. Wright Museum of African American History Gift Store to provide custom handmade tiles, pottery, and mosaics, Detroit, MI, May 2007
Selected by the DuSable Museum of African American History Gift Store to provide custom handmade tiles, Chicago, IL, April 2007
Featured Artist: Winter Show, Valaria's Studio Art Gallery, Inc., Detroit, MI, March 2007
Featured Artist: Winter Show Valaria's Studio Art Gallery, Inc., Detroit, MI, December 2006
Donated mosaic artwork to the Detroit Medical Center (DMC), Detroit, MI, September 2006
Featured Artist: WJBK Fox 2 Detroit Television Morning Show, Southfield, MI, April 2006
Featured Artist: Winter Show, Valaria's Studio Art Gallery, Inc., Detroit, MI, December 2005
Participating Artist: Indian Village - Home and Garden/ Art Fair, Detroit, MI, June 2005
Selected by the Detroit Institute of Arts Gift Store to provide custom handmade tiles and pottery, Detroit, MI, April 2005
Commissioned by Innerspace Design Group, Ltd., to create custom ceramic kitchen backsplash at the Michigan Design Center, Troy, MI, November 2004
Commissioned by Insight Media Group, Ltd., United Kingdom and the Wayne County Economic Development Department to create commemorative tiles for the Airport Cities 2004 International Conference, Detroit, MI, October 2004
Commissioned by the Wayne County Prosecuting Attorney’s Office to design and create commemorative plaques for awardees at the National Black Prosecutors Association Conference, Detroit, MI, July 2004
Group Show (Juried), Agora Gallery, New York, NY, December 2004
Featured Artist: Winter Show, Valaria's Studio Art Gallery, Inc., Detroit, MI, March 2004
Opened Valaria's Studio Art Gallery, Inc., Detroit, MI, March 2004
Featured Artist: Art in the Park, Boston-Edison, Detroit, MI September 1998
Commissioned by Berry Elementary School to create ceramic wall mural, Detroit, MI September 1996
Education
1991 - 1995 Center For Creative Studies, Detroit, MI
BFA (General Crafts)
1992 Studio Arts Center International, Florence, Italy
Summer Semester Study (Mosaics, Ceramics, and Art History)
Professional
2001 - Present Stellantis Automobiles, Auburn Hills, MI
Automotive Clay Modeler
Affiliations
Scarab Club - 2021
Grosse Pointe Artist Association - 2015
Detroit Artist Market - 2008
Arts League of Michigan - 2008