Biography:

I was born Dana Bogema in 1971 Minneapolis, Minnesota USA .
I discovered art for the first time in a shopping mall gallery that was located next to our neighborhood grocery store. It was because of this first art experience, realizing that there was something other than wildlife that I became inspired to create.

In 1992 I moved to Paris, France. I was working as the art assistant to the Swedish artist, Charlotte Nicolin.
Since her work reflects some of Claes Oldenburg and Warhol, I was inspired
paint. During the previous years I had become fascinated with the art of beadwork. In Paris, I saw so many incredible things that I wanted to
make the best beadwork anyone had ever seen. Using the beading techniques of the Native America Indians and those of African tribes, I designed and was even commissioned by the Christian LaCroix house of fashion to design 2 beaded belts.

I became a commissioned painted soon thereafter.
My boss commissioned me to do a series of murals and mosaics in her apartment.
I replicated the masters in paintings for cafe owners near the Bastille. I made wall dividers which were featured in the Architecture de l'Interior Show in Paris 94' and 95'. I was inspired again, not only to create, but to be an artist, like Charlotte. I didn't want to copy her style or artwork, but I was definitely influenced by her strengths.
I had the need to meet other artists.

In Paris it's not hard to meet artists. Good and bad. In the old Bar des Familles on Rue du Lappe, I befriended Jean Pierre Merouse, the 1960s assistant to Yves Klein. At my neighborhood cafe, I became super pals with Yvon le Marlec, the world's master of photo development. I was influenced by the ideologies of these two men. In contemplating a woman's body on canvas in blue, I was reminded that art is minimalist. I saw that in developing photos, art is a 100% reflection of life. I knew that there was a place for my art needed to convey these two truths.

Upon my return to Minneapolis, I became interested in the art of Matisse and the human form. I decided that I would experiment with the materials I had at hand. Since a roommate left some mattresses, I decided I could work on a much larger scale and use the mattresses as a new 3-D canvas.
That is how I began the 4 works that I am sending to you for the Pulcherias Days exposition.