Dellamarie Parrilli facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dellamarie Parrilli
Born	Dellamarie Parrilli (1949-02-28) February 28, 1949 (age 76) Chicago
Nationality	American/Italian
Education	DePaul University (BA)
Known for	Visual Arts
Movement	Abstract Expressionist

Dellamarie Parrilli (born February 28, 1949) is an American visual artist and record producer. She is known for her unique, self-taught abstract painting style. Her art has been shown in galleries across Europe and the United States, especially in Chicago and New York.

Before becoming a full-time visual artist in 2000, Parrilli was a singer. More recently, she was the executive producer for the album Angels Bend Closer (2016) by Canadian singer Jane Siberry.

Early Career as a Singer

Dellamarie Parrilli always loved being creative. She used music and art to express her feelings.

She earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Music from DePaul University in 1971. As a singer, she performed under the stage name "Dellamarie." In 1979, she was a headliner at the Sahara hotel in Las Vegas. She created and performed a special one-woman show. People said her show was inspired by famous artists like Judy Garland and Liza Minnelli. Parrilli also released her own music album called Dellamaire. It featured a mix of classic songs and show tunes.

In 1992, Parrilli was getting ready to open her show "Judy: The Songs and Stories of a Legend" on Broadway. However, she faced health challenges that made it impossible for her to sing. This sadly ended her singing career.

After her singing career ended, Parrilli opened a restaurant in Chicago. It was very popular and even won an award for "Best New Restaurant." However, due to more health issues, the restaurant closed in 2000. After recovering, Parrilli decided to focus completely on visual arts.

Becoming a Visual Artist

Parrilli started painting full-time after her health struggles. Her first public art show was in Chicago in February 2002. After that, she had many exhibitions in New York and Chicago. Parrilli's art has won several awards. Her works are now part of many private and company art collections across the United States.

Art critics have praised Parrilli's unique style. One critic, Ed McCormack, called her style "adventurous and constantly evolving." Another expert, Ann Landi, noted that Parrilli "developed her own expressionist vocabulary." This means she created her own way of showing feelings through art. NY Arts magazine admired her courage to take old ideas and make them new and exciting.

How Her Art Style Changed

Parrilli's early paintings (around 2002-2004) used oil paints. She applied them with quick, short strokes using a palette knife. These paintings often featured a special shade of violet. McCormack said she was a great follower of "action painters." He noted that her use of strong colors made it seem like light was coming from the paint.

Curator Ruthie Tucker said Parrilli's early work showed a "struggle with light and color." She believed Parrilli created art that was both energetic and calming. Parrilli painted directly on the canvas without drawing first. This made her art feel very spontaneous. A lecturer from the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Nancy di Benedetto, said Parrilli's early art "sings and dances on the canvases," showing how her performing background influenced her painting.

By 2007, Parrilli still used oils, but her style changed. She started using a layered pour and drip method. This was similar to the style of Jackson Pollock. During this time, she also explored a style that looked like Asian screen painting. Some of her paintings featured large, bright areas of primary colors. She continued to use her favorite violet hues and bright color combinations. McCormack even said it looked like she "dipped her brush in liquid light."

Parrilli's interest in light grew even stronger. In 2008, she spent nine months searching for new materials. She wanted materials that could show even more brightness. This led her to use a special polycarbonate plastic, usually used in industry. These polycarbonate artworks continued to be influenced by Eastern painting styles. They blended both Eastern and Western art ideas.

In the 2010s, Parrilli moved to Los Angeles. There, she started using even more unusual materials and techniques. As of 2014, her Los Angeles work includes several different styles. These include three-dimensional polycarbon on acrylic cubes. She also creates large watercolors on canvas with added textures. Her large acrylic paintings are described as "muscular and juicy," with very big brush strokes.

Art Exhibitions

Parrilli's art has been shown in many galleries in the U.S. and Europe. Some of her solo exhibitions include:

• "Reflections: Journeys Within And Beyond" (2002) in Chicago, IL
• "Between Here … And There" (2006) and "Rhapsodic Abstractions: Variations On A Theme" (2007) in Southampton, New York
• "Into The Light" (2008) in New York, NY
• "Jackson Pollock Meets Bette Midler" and "Beyond Barriers" (2009) in Chicago, IL

Her work has also been part of many group exhibitions, such as:

• "Chelsea Global Competition" (2002) in New York, NY
• "Abstract Impressions" (2005) in Chicago, IL
• "Evocative Expressions" (2006) in New York, NY
• "Biennale Internazionale Dell'arte Contemporanea" (2007) in Florence, Italy
• "Moscow International Festival of Art—Traditions and Contemporaneity" (2009) in Moscow, Russia
• "Visual Interpretations" (2009) in Barcelona, Spain

Awards and Honors

Parrilli has received many awards for her art. Some of these include:

• Richard W. and Wanda Gardner Memorial Award (2002) for "Searching For The Divine"
• Manhattan Arts International Artist Showcase Award (2002) for "Manhattan Rhythm"
• Best of Show (2003) for "Rhapsody In Blue"
• Chelsea Global Showcase Winner (2003) for "Manhattan Rhythm"
• Award Of Excellence (2003) for "Desire" and "Journey To Self Discovery"
• Artist Showcase Award Winner (2004) for "Life, Love And The Art Of Celebration"

As a Record Producer

In 2016, Parrilli was the executive producer for Canadian singer Jane Siberry's album Angels Bend Closer. She also worked as the art director and photographer for the album. Siberry said Parrilli brought new energy and focus to the album's music. The album was featured in NPR All Things Considered's "The Year In Music" review in 2016. It also received good reviews from ABC News and The Associated Press.

Images for kids

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  Dellamarie Parrilli