Artist Statement
I shape everyday materials into intricate forms that investigate humanity’s complex relationship with the natural world. My practice explores cycles of growth, decay, and regeneration, focusing on the delicate balance between human intervention and biological systems.
Working primarily with discarded objects—product packaging, tape, and other detritus—I create layered prints and sculptural installations that bridge manufactured and organic realms. Through experimental printmaking methods and process-oriented sculpture techniques, these overlooked components evolve into complex structures that echo natural formations like coral reefs, cellular matrices, and geological strata.
In recent works, plastic containers and tape are transformed into biomorphic sculptures, examining our culture of disposability and environmental impact. These pieces reimagine mundane elements into intricate systems that blur the boundaries between the natural and human-made, revealing both fragility and resilience in their forms. Similarly, my collagraph prints contrast geometric shapes with fluid, organic elements, creating dynamic tensions between natural and industrial forces.
By uncovering meaning and significance in what most consider waste, my work invites reflection on our environmental interconnectedness and the transformative potential within the ephemeral and forgotten.
Artist Bio
Don Dao is a Los Angeles-based artist whose practice transforms reclaimed materials into evocative sculptures, installations, and prints that examine human consumption and its relationship to natural systems. With a BA in Art from UCLA and an MEd in Curriculum and Instruction from CSULB, his work combines artistic experimentation with interdisciplinary thinking.
Through innovative collagraph printmaking techniques and sculptural interventions, Don uses recycled materials to create compelling artworks that challenge our perception of waste and ecological interdependence. His work invites viewers to reconsider the potential of neglected materials and our relationship with the environment.
