Darlene Libbey

Infobox Artist
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name = Darlene Libbey


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caption = Darlene Libbey in her studio
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birthdate = January 9, 1952
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nationality = flagicon|United States American
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Darlene Libbey (born January 9, 1952, in Lafollette, Tennessee) is an American artist classified as an artist with feminine concerns, closely linked to the feminist movement with beginnings in the twentieth century. Her paintings and drawings summon the viewer to explore the political significance undermining the traditional erotic representations of women by male artists. Her work also addresses race, gender and social class.

Libbey began painting in the mid 1980's while attending The San Francisco Art Institute where she work with Robert Colescott, Angela Davis, and Carlos Villa. Libbey completed her final semester of undergraduate studies in New York City while attending the Alliance of Independent Colleges. While in NYC, Libbey studied with Thomas Lawson, David Ireland, and worked at the Holly Solomon Gallery.

During the 15 weeks in NYC, Libbey created a body of work that was exhibited in New York and later at the Diego Rivera Gallery, San Francisco Art Institute. After graduating in 1989, Libbey completed her MFA in 1994 at the University of Tennessee.

In the summer of 1994, Libbey moved to the Rio Grand Valley in McAllen, Texas, where she painted and taught for three years at the University of Texas-Pan America and at the Museo of Art, Tamaulipas, Mexico.

Libbey started a body of work in 2004 based on world religions that was exhibited at the Central Bank Gallery in Lexington, Kentucky 2005.

Libbey has worked along side Jacob Wachira in the Mathare Valley slums in Nairobi, Kenya, creating a collaborative exhibit for RoMoMA in Nairobi. The exhibit was a collaboration involving Jacob Wachira and children from Marthare. The exhibit was held during August of 2006.

Libbey has traveled to Tanzania where she met and stayed with Brother Pete O'Neal and Sister Charlotte. Meeting the O'Neal's was a strong reminder of having studied philosophy with Angela Davis, who was involved with the Black Panther Party and the impact Davis ad on Libbey. Mama Charlotte came to visit Libbey in Somerset, Kentucky in March of 2008.

"I have a passion for issues that cut across traditional demographic lines. The images that developed in my work to challenge preconceived notions that weave us together or separate us as a people."