Cover Art

Cover artist

The evolution of Diana Folsom's artistic practice has been shaped around the connections between earth and sky considered through the fluid handling of paint in abstracted landscapes. She earned a BA in Art from San Diego State University and an MA in Creative Art—Painting, from Hunter College, City University of New York. In addition to her artistic endeavors, she worked at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art and since 2013 has worked at the Gilcrease Museum in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where the Peter Pitchlynn Papers collection includes letters written by her great-grandfather and great-great-grandfather. She has returned to her family homeland.

Ms. Folsom's paintings reflect a merging of ideas and iconography derived from her ancient Choctaw heritage. Ancient symbols are painted with contemporary colors and media. Since moving to Oklahoma, a personal artistic goal has been to learn more about her Choctaw heritage through the practice of making art.

As a regularly exhibiting artist, highlights of her activities include several exhibitions at Gallery Western in Los Angeles; Materials of the Universe: Connecting Earth and Sky at Gallery ZeinXeno in Seoul, Korea; Woman as River: Liquid Passages at DoubleVision Gallery, Los Angeles; As Dreams are Made On—A Tribute to William Shakespeare with her husband William F. Matthews at Lois Lambert Gallery, Bergamot Station, Los Angeles; and an artist residency at the Vermont Studio Center. Since moving to Oklahoma, Ms. Folsom has participated in the annual Choctaw Nation Art Show in Tushkahoma and has exhibited as a member of the Southeast Indian Artist Association (SEIAA).

Ms. Folsom's work is included in collections in California, Georgia, New York, South Korea, Mexico and the Middle East.

About star ancestor

The central star shape is a diagram of four overlapping triangles which forms an open armature that appears to hold a yellow-orange core that is emitting dust and gas. The tilt of the star and the feeling of pulsation caused by the poured paint colors makes the star feel alive and looks almost human as it dances through the night sky. We look up into the skies and find our ancestors.