Making Connections with Deaf Artists: Artist Talk and Discussion of De'VIA

Born Deaf, Ellen Mansfield went to public school in New Jersey where she had difficulty learning without sign language and interpreters. Despite this challenge, she went on to earn a BFA in illustration from the School of Visual Arts in New York City. When she moved to Maryland, where she was suddenly surrounded by Deaf culture and sign language, she recognized just how much her Deaf identity is part of her artwork. For the past twenty years she has worked in her Frederick, Maryland studio, creating paintings and handpainted tiles in a variety of aesthetic and technical styles including sculpted relief, carved plaster blocks, tile presses and mosaic. She also leads workshops in ceramics, drawing and painting for Deaf children, children of Deaf parents, and adults. facebook.com/EllenTileStrokeStudio.

A weekend with Ellen Mansfield and Deaf View/Image Art (De’VIA) presented in partnership with Manitoba Cultural Society of the Deaf.