Portfolio
Work
An American Son
2025–Present
A poetic-symbolic account of a life in America. The work traces a childhood on the north side of Chicago, Montrose and Ashland, to his studio in Wilmington, DE — across six chapters: survival, dislocation, agency, repair, self-discovery, and purpose. Rendered in casein, collaged drawings, found documents, blackout poems, and acrylic medium.
Critical Text — Angela N. Carroll
"Rather than situating struggle as the predominant reference for his experience, de Paz exalts un-extraordinary moments of joy, play, and peace as worthy of portrayal. For him, the mundane moments of those who have endured what the artist has termed 'systemic suffering' are the most miraculous."Read Full Essay →
Chapter 1, Survival and Resilience
Bittersweet Child's Play
2025, Casein, collaged drawings, acrylic medium
48 × 60 in
The World's Weight
2026, Casein, collaged drawings, paper shopping bags, acrylic medium
48 × 48 in
Chapter 2, Disruption and Dislocation
Allegiance Arrested
2025, Casein, collaged drawings, found objects, blackout poem, acrylic medium
48 × 60 in
We Learn to be Guarded
2026, Casein, collaged drawings, found objects, acrylic medium
48 × 48 in
Chapter 3, Finding Agency
The Pen and the Pad
2025, Casein, collaged drawings, found objects, blackout poem, acrylic medium
48 × 60 in
What Carries Us Forward
2026, Casein, collaged drawings, cut and painted paper, acrylic medium
48 × 48 in
Chapter 4, Acts of Repair
I'm Working on It (Wear Your Heart Out)
2025, Casein, collaged drawings, found objects, acrylic medium
48 × 60 in
Held Between Pages
2026, Casein and Painted Paper
48 x 48 in
Chapter 5, Self-Discovery and Emergence
Cocooned Reflection
2025, Casein, collaged drawings and documents, blackout poem, acrylic medium
48 × 60 in
It Can Only Be Heard In Stillness
2025, Casein
48 × 48 in
Leave Nothing Left (Squeeze It All Out)
2025, Casein
48 × 48 in
Chapter 6, Stepping into Purpose
Creative Destruction
2025, Casein, collaged drawings, blackout poem, acrylic medium
48 × 60 in