Essays
Evidence of Things Unseen, 2024
by Andrew Woolbright, Editor-at-Large Brooklyn Rail
Donaty uses sculpture in an overloaded way, to transgress itself as a medium while also questioning the logic of the world of desire that we’ve inherited from patriarchal systems of control. Her assemblages are like if someone were to be locked and forgotten in the supply closet of an infomercial stage, and they needed a way to get a message out into the world of how they ended up there.
Exploring character development in the art works of Dana Donaty, 2019
by Diane Arrieta
When you first encounter the work of Dana Donaty, you are hit with a profusion of color and fairytale-like narratives that explode on her canvases. It takes a while to settle into one of her paintings. But when you do, you can get lost for hours discovering the characters and the stories summoned by her stockpiled memories…
Expect the unexpected, 2018
by Bruce Helander
Having followed Dana Donaty’s work for several years, I can attest to her very high standard of consistency in imagery and inventiveness. In fact, after carefully examining her latest series of works, I have come to expect the unexpected in terms of sheer innovation…
Knee High, 2017
by Bruce Helander
“Donaty is an accomplished painter who doesn’t mind the taking risks to explore new visual territory and the accompanying rewards…
The Struggle to Play Set Free, 2017
by Frank Hyder
In 1987 I was working as a teacher of Painting and serving as Department Chairman of Fine Arts at Moore college of Art and Design in Philadelphia. During this time I first became acquainted with Dana Donaty…
Painting Preceding Painting: The Playful and Profound Work of Dana Donaty, 2017
by Jane Hart
Painting Preceding Painting: The Playful and Profound work of Dana Donaty
The work innovative artist Dana Donaty, has greatly impressed me since first being introduced to it roughly three years ago…
Is Ritual Art Women’s Roles in Contemporary Art and Society, 2016
by Dr. Mary Jo Aagerstoun, Ph.D.
Donaty’s works in Artistically Speaking emerge consciously from detritus-blotches spattered randomly while creating paintings. Donaty characterizes the resulting paintings as the “children” “born” from materials (paint , smears on palette liners, water used to clean brushes, etc.), randomly & unconsciously discarded while creating the “parent” work…
Over the Counter Prescriptions, 2016
by Bruce Helander
After investigating artists’ careers for decades, there are certain attributes that a critic constantly finds that somehow always connect back to childhood and parental influences…
Whimsy on Steroids, 2014
by Joanne Berkow
Donaty is a ‘Tour de Force’ of an artist. She is every bit as dynamic as the art she creates. Her canvases pulsate with color and all sorts of lively and quirky little creatures that appear to be spelling out a curious narrative…
Catalogues
Profoundly Playful, 2018
by Bruce Helander
Coral Springs Museum of Art exhibition catalogue with essay by Bruce Helander.
A Charmed Life, 2014
by Bruce Helander
Paul Fisher Gallery exhibition catalogue with essay by Bruce Helander
Books
Profoundly Playful, 2017
by Carlin West
Profoundly Playful is a beautiful full color 102 pg. hardcover fine art coffee table book (10.5” x 12”) includes: artist dedication, two essays, forty selected paintings, five sculptures, three installations, twelve candid artist studio images, artist statement and biography and annotated image list.
100 + Degrees in the Shade, A Survey of South Florida Art, 2017
by Jane Hart
An illustrated survey of over 150 South Florida artists working in a variety of media with texts by Jane Hart, Erica Ando and Sandra Schulman.
Artistically Speaking: Women's Roles in Contemporary Art & Society, 2017
by John D. MacArthur Campus Library
Exhibition book written by Diane Arrieta, Artistically Speaking, featuring thirteen women artists. Critical essay by Dr. Mary Jo Aagerstoun relating to art and ritual.