Dana DeKalb creates small-scale paintings that blend iconic imagery with the cadence of a visual fable, evoking contemporary mythic figures on the verge of transformation

Born in Sumatra, Indonesia, and raised across New York, Karachi, Pakistan, and Australia, DeKalb developed a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and multiple ways of seeing the world. She has been drawing and painting since childhood, often inventing her own comic-book characters to stage in fantastical adventures. Her paintings, influenced by magical realism as well as artists such as William Kentridge and Joseph Cornell, depict characters engaged in curious tasks—hunting, gathering, or navigating unforeseen events—set in improbable environments that feel simultaneously nostalgic and disorienting. Each scene captures a narrative pause, inviting viewers to insert their own interpretations and complete the story.

DeKalb earned her B.A. in Studio Art from Pomona College and has exhibited nationally since the 1980s. Her work is held in numerous public and corporate collections, including: Ernst and Whinney (Oakland, CA); Mercy Housing (San Francisco, CA); Pacific Telesis (San Francisco, CA); PayPal Headquarters (San Jose, CA); Pepsi-Cola Corporation (Los Angeles, CA); Pomona College (Claremont, CA); Proctor & Gamble (Cincinnati, OH); Safeway Corporation Headquarters (Oakland, CA); Siemens Laboratories (Walnut Creek, CA); Stags’ Leap Winery (Napa, CA); Stanford University (Stanford, CA); and Wellington Management (Boston, MA). Her work has been featured in publications including the San Francisco Chronicle, Visual Art Source, Southwest Art, American Art Collector, Huffington Post, Artweek, 48 Hills, and the East Bay Express.