Artist Bio
Daniel J Cunningham is a fine artist known for his work in cold wax and encaustic painting styles as well as installations dealing with themes and issues pertaining to modern conflicts. Prior to painting, he worked as a photographer before transitioning into graphic design and art direction, enjoying a career that spanned more than two decades. He added Painting to his repertoire in 2008, when he began studies in encaustic at The Encaustic Center under critically lauded artists Bonny Leibowitz and Deanna Wood – until his life took an unexpected turn in 2015 when he was diagnosed with an extremely rare disease called Gorham-Stout, resulting in multiple reconstructive surgeries. He then found himself navigating a path of chronic pain and inconvenient at best, physical limitations.
During a prolonged convalescence, Cunningham returned to painting as a way of coming to terms with his disease, being forced into disability and the trauma of slowly losing autonomy. Despite his setbacks, he returned to The Encaustic Center
in 2020 to study with renowned artists Lisa Pressman and Jane Cornish-Smith as well as taking part in The Yellow Chair residency with internationally celebrated artist Michael David followed by independent study through the Cold Wax Academy with Rebecca Crowell and Jerry McLaughlin.
Cunningham’s abstract works are often a reflection of the continuing dialog between his canvas and the often conflicting thoughts and emotions regarding his disease and the changes it has forced on his life. Conversely, he finds peace and inspiration for his abstract landscape work in the incredible vistas provided by life on an island next to the Gulf of Mexico. His technique involves the conspicuous addition of layers to create intricate textures, building depth only to scrape them away to reveal that which lay underneath, creating visual narratives which move beyond representation.
Cunningham’s art has been well-received, with works in institutions such as The Encaustic Institute in Santa Fe, NM as well as private collections throughout the world.
I am most inspired by textures and their blending, either literally or figuratively, with colours and emotion. It is at the intersection of these relationships the most interesting things happen.
Artist Bio
Driven by the exploration of texture, color, and process, I use a unique blend of cold wax medium and pigments as well as encaustic, oil, acrylic and collage to create my two dimensional art. Layer by layer, I build depth and complexity into my compositions, then scratch and carve them away revealing past layers, creating visual narratives that go beyond simple representation. I invite viewers to draw their own conclusions, engaging with my art in a personal and meaningful way and in their own time.
As an artist living with a disability, I use my work as a way to search for meaning and understanding as well as escaping into the incredible vistas island live on the Gulf of Mexico provides. Exploring the interplay of light and shadow, form and color, carved out emotions followed by moments of solitude in my two dimensional work finds balance and meaning in my more immediate circumstances. Meanwhile, my installations call out the dangers of complacency in the demonstrated lack of compassion and understanding of bad actors in our governments and society. Both create art that speaks to the human experience, inviting viewers to connect with their own emotions and innermost thoughts.
My intent is to create art that inspires others to embark on their own journeys of self-discovery and growth, finding deeper connections within themselves as well as the world around them.
Art has always been a refuge, a source of solace and inspiration. My current body of work, Inspired by Bon Secour Bay on which I reside, is a reflection of the some of the emotional landscapes noticeable in the bay each day. In my best effort to adequately capture the more relevant details, my pieces take on an abstract form, imbued with an essence of experiences and emotions. Each application of paint serving as a distraction from the relentless pain that accompanies me every day which are then scrapped away revealing another revelation underneath
Exhibitions
2026
Retrospectively Speaking, Solo Show
Easter Shore Art Center, Fairhope, AL
2019
This Work of Mine – Selected Works, Solo Show
Third Rail Lofts, Dallas, TX
2018
O.S.D., Group Show
Goldmark Center, Richardson, TX, USA
2010
The One Night Show, Group
The Bonny Studio|The Encaustic Center,
Richardson, TX, USA
2009
The One Night Show, Group Show
The Bonny Studio|The Encaustic Center
Richardson, TX, USA
2008
The One Night Show, Group Show
The Bonny Studio|The Encaustic Center
Richardson, TX, USA
2007
Group Show
Texas Visual Arts Association
Dallas, TX
Education
2009
BFA Program, Intelligence Analysis,
American Military University, Charles Town, WV
2001
eMBA Program, The University of Texas, Austin
1994
BFA Program, Photography, Graphic Design
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Online Study
2022
Cold Wax Academy, Rebecca Crowell, Jerry McLaughlin
Residencies
2021 Yellow Chair Residency, Micheal David, Dallas, TX