ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Virmarie DePoyster was born and raised on the beautiful island of Puerto Rico. The vibrant tropical colors, wide open spaces, and rain forest left an indelible impression that is so clearly translated in her paintings. Her desire for creative expression began at The University of Arkansas in Fayetteville, where she studied Apparel Merchandising and Design. Years later, in 2004, she took on a new creative challenge by enrolling in classes at the Arkansas Arts Center Museum School. She quickly fell in love with the bright pigments of soft pastels specifically when experimenting with surface textured paper.
Over the past twelve years, her reputation and recognition as an artist and art teacher has grown exponentially. Virmarie was a drawing and pastel instructor at the Arkansas Arts Center Museum School from 2011 to 2018. In 2012, she developed and implemented a therapeutic art program teaching at-risk youth in rural Arkansas how to heal through artistic expression. In 2016, she built on this desire to give others a voice through art by providing her services to a wide range of individuals at an acute care facility in Little Rock. DePoyster is also currently a visual artist in residency with the Arkansas Arts Council AIE program which includes facilitating professional workshops for school teachers, focusing on how to better integrate art into their curriculum.
Her work is currently displayed in private and public collections, along with past numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout the United States and internationally. Some of her accomplishments include, the first place award at the Arkansas Pastel Society National Exhibition with her piece Still in Love 6. As well as the international solo exhibition “Revelation” which debuted at the US Embassy in Rome, Italy in 2015. Currently, she lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her husband, David. You can find her work at Justus Fine Art Gallery in Hot Springs, Arkansas and The Art Group Gallery in Little Rock, Arkansas.
Over the past twelve years, her reputation and recognition as an artist and art teacher has grown exponentially. Virmarie was a drawing and pastel instructor at the Arkansas Arts Center Museum School from 2011 to 2018. In 2012, she developed and implemented a therapeutic art program teaching at-risk youth in rural Arkansas how to heal through artistic expression. In 2016, she built on this desire to give others a voice through art by providing her services to a wide range of individuals at an acute care facility in Little Rock. DePoyster is also currently a visual artist in residency with the Arkansas Arts Council AIE program which includes facilitating professional workshops for school teachers, focusing on how to better integrate art into their curriculum.
Her work is currently displayed in private and public collections, along with past numerous group and solo exhibitions throughout the United States and internationally. Some of her accomplishments include, the first place award at the Arkansas Pastel Society National Exhibition with her piece Still in Love 6. As well as the international solo exhibition “Revelation” which debuted at the US Embassy in Rome, Italy in 2015. Currently, she lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her husband, David. You can find her work at Justus Fine Art Gallery in Hot Springs, Arkansas and The Art Group Gallery in Little Rock, Arkansas.
