Deedee Cheriel: Painting, Punk Rock, Pop Culture

Drawing from a variety of eclectic influences, the portfolio of Los Angeles-based visual artist, Deedee Cheriel can be described as vivid, colorful, dynamic, and spirited. Her paintings capture surreal scenes of both humans and nature in her distinctly recognizable palette of colors. In Deedee’s own words, her work is an exploration of “…narratives that recognize the urgency and conflict in our continuing attempts to connect to the world”.

An Indian-American who grew up in the laid-back, hippie college town of Eugene, Oregon, Deedee attributes her unique style of work to her upbringing; camping trips to rivers and lakes in the Pacific Northwest and a journey to India, where she became mesmerized by the culture’s psychedelic temple imagery.

Deedee has lived and studied abroad in the Americas, Europe, and her native India. She also started her own band and record label at the age of 19. Her artwork has been featured in VICE, and she was tapped by the creators of Django Unchained to create limited-edition apparel inspired by the film.

We spoke with Deedee and learned more about the style, influences, and evolution of her work.

How’d you get your start in art?

My mom was a really creative person and a kindergarten teacher. We didn’t have a TV growing up so she would always have us gluing macaroni to stuff and painting it. Finger painting gardening, all sorts of creative things were encouraged from a very young age.

Deedee Cheriel

Coming from a laidback, free-spirited place like Eugene, what impact has this had on your style and creativity?

I think it deeply imprinted on me an appreciation for nature that is more like a spiritual quest, a pursuit of healthy lifestyle, and a deeper compassion for other people. I loved growing up in a small town and having close relationships with neighbors, being able to ride my bike to the river to pick blackberries and swim. You could fish or watch blue herons, ducks, trout, beavers… I miss all of these things now living in LA. Luckily I have family there and go back at least once a year.

Deedee Cheriel

What words would you use to describe your style?

I was influenced by punk bands and the early skate scene, I loved the immediateness of graphics and silkscreens of skateboard graphics and record art from those scenes, but I also spent time in South America reading Gabriel Garcia Marquez and living in that sort of magical realism. So if you put those in a blender…

Deedee Cheriel

How do you make these (seemingly opposing) elements come together in your art?

I like the directness and immediacy of a pop song or a political poster, and I find myself trying to emulate this language as I paint. I try to convey raw immediate emotion, using natural elements.