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Donna Bates

Artist Statement

“Having always been fascinated by people and their story, I guess that is why I create and am a fan of Figurative Art! Having worked in the graphics/illustration/3D Animation field for many years, I have created my own mash-up style of urban, tough-chic, edgy, fresh, strong independent humans. My people aren’t traditional pin-ups or portraits, they are a different vision of power and sex flavored with leather, metal, graffiti, human rights and fantasy!”

Biography

Native Southern Californian, Donna Bates has years of experience as a commercial illustrator, 3D Artist and teacher that resulted in her interest in painting.  She is a self-taught artist that is known for her own mash-up of urban, tough-chic, edgy and fresh style.

She has exhibited in various group shows at galleries including:  RJD Gallery, Rehs Contemporary Galleries, 33 Contemporary Gallery and Zhou B. Art Center. She was a featured artist in a four woman show at Annenberg Beach House, Santa Monica and has had two paintings on HBO’s show Insecure. Her work was exhibited at the Wausau Museum of Contemporary Art’s Painting the Figure Now 2018 and at Zhou B. Art Center’s Painting the Figure Now 2019 exhibition.  

Donna was a finalist in WMOCA’s Biennial Portrait Competition and a finalist in ARC Salon 14. Ms. Bate’s work has been published with PoetsArtist, Klassik International Magazine, The Argonaut Magazine and Sag Harbor Express. Her works are included in numerous private collections including The Bennett Collection of Women Realists.