Monica DeSalvo
Photo by Lee Pellegrini
Monica DeSalvo’s work explores her late father’s dementia and the caregiving dyad by visually preserving his vivid recollections, hallucinations, and quotes into surreal mixed media works. DeSalvo draws the viewer into her abstract imagery to discover multiple storylines by combining her own artwork with her father’s paper memorabilia. After blending drawing and printmaking along with items mined from her father’s life, DeSalvo uses collage to bridge the various media and fortify her often segmented compositions. Through her process, she arrives at “visual duets” that are both camouflaged and distinguished in surface and depth. Imagery is interwoven with quiet storytelling, and her use of text is interspersed like sprinkles of thought. Dementia let DeSalvo uncover an extraordinarily resilient spirit in her father. Through her work, she aims to illustrate the value and content of one’s inner life toward the end of life—whether joyful or haunting.
Monica DeSalvo received her BFA in Visual Design from the University of Massachusetts, Dartmouth. Her work has been shown in many shows both juried and invitational, is a part of collections across the US and Europe, and has been featured in Juniper Rag and Artscope magazines. In 2021 DeSalvo was one of eight artists selected for the Attleboro Arts Museum’s annual juried exhibition "8 Visions." In 2022 her three-person show, “Into the Ether” was the winning proposal invited to exhibit at Nearby Gallery in Newton, MA. She lives and works out of her studio in Arlington, MA.
Fountain Street Exhibitions: “Mom & Pop,” “Form and Emptiness,” “Beyond Words”, “The Momentary,” “Divergent Thinking”, “Annex Show October 2018”
Purchase Monica DeSalvo's work by contacting us directly at director@fsfaboston.com. DeSalvo's work is also available for purchase on 1stdibs.com.
Fountain Street Press:
More about Fountain Street Artists:
Boston Art Review | Shira Laucharoen