Raised in San Francisco, California, Derek Chan’s paintings and drawings focus on the relationship between spirituality, universal symbols and cultural myth. His paintings combine intuitive use of color, the language of abstraction, landscape and figurative representation, to reflect upon and celebrate these themes. After UCLA, Derek received his MFA from the University of Illinois, Chicago in 2007. While working primarily in painting and drawing, additional projects have involved elements of performance and installation. Participating as a Monastic-monk, Derek worked in collaboration with Theaster Gates, for Gates’ contribution at the 2010 Whitney Biennial, Whitney Museum of American Art, New York. Also in 2010, Derek journeyed through the Four-Corners region of the Southwest, including the Hopi Mesas, and Navajo Nation, which provided inspiration for past works. In particular, a solo exhibition titled, A Way Of Life and the companion book, Cries and Whispers From The Salt Song Trail, presented at the Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago. More recent exhibits include: The Happiness Project, a collaboration with other artists from the Chicago art community and a solo exhibit, All Our Relations, at Carrie Secrist Gallery, Chicago. He is currently a 2012-2013 Roswell Artist In Residence Program fellow. He is preparing for an upcoming solo exhibition at the Roswell Museum in September 2013.
