b i o

Daniel Fleming is a working artist based North of Milwaukee. He received his BFA from the Milwaukee Institute of Art and Design in 2010, graduating with a major in Communication Design and a concentration in painting. His paintings explore connection, the loss of it, and introspection as a result of the busyness of everyday life, the influence of constant technological engagement, as well as ongoing political and social upheaval. Fleming has been represented by various galleries over the past fifteen years and has taken part in group and solo exhibits throughout the nation. Currently, Fleming is represented by Milwaukee's Scout Gallery.

e m a i l   &   s o c i a l

[email protected]
@dflemingpainting
​@danflemdraws

s t a t e m e n t

Our sense of self, and our understanding of ourselves, has never been more vital than in the present day. Not only are we rushing to keep up with a deluge of daily news and events, pressured to support, update and contribute to both actual and digital lives, but having endured years of the pandemic alongside continuing political turmoil and a never-ending sense of impending societal upheaval, our proximity to our “selves”, our place in our community and, perhaps more importantly, our ability to escape from both, has been reduced in ways never before experienced.

My paintings explore ideas of isolation, connection, introspection, loss, distance and an overwhelming sense of the unknown, resulting in an enveloping world of symbol, color, and liminal spaces populated by mysterious, yet oddly familiar, figures. The paintings take form organically through a process of discovery rather than pre-planning. Marks are made, surfaces are built, and, eventually, scenes and figures emerge naturally and unexpectedly. This meditative process, an almost abstract approach, reveals thoughts, emotions and ideas that connect to the everyday, yet also stand on their own as representations of the human experience that all viewers can find solace and connection within.

​My paintings are largely figurative and landscape-based, with rich and saturated colors, flowing  organic shapes, and a distinct connection to waterways inspired by a life spent in proximity to the Mississippi, Lake Michigan, and the waters of Northern Minnesota. While rooted in the Midwest, this connection to water is omnipresent, elevating personal experiences and intentions to a universal platform.