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 Museum of Fine Arts. 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 Museum of Fine Arts from 2011- 2018. From 2012-2018, she developed and implemented a therapeutic art program teaching at-risk youth in rural Arkansas how to heal through artistic expression. In 2016-2019, 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 Artist-In-Education 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. One of her significant accomplishments was representing the state of Arkansas in Her Flag, a national project commemorating the 100th year anniversary of women's suffrage. She was commissioned by Arkansas' largest organ procurement organization to design their traveling #BeeADonor Traveling Art Installation which travelled around the state. And secured an international solo exhibition “Revelation” which debuted at the United States Embassy in Rome, Italy in 2015.
Currently, she lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her husband, David. You can find her work at The Art Group Gallery, The Galleries & Bookstore at Library Square in Little Rock, Arkansas and Justus Fine Art in Hot Springs, 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 Museum of Fine Arts from 2011- 2018. From 2012-2018, she developed and implemented a therapeutic art program teaching at-risk youth in rural Arkansas how to heal through artistic expression. In 2016-2019, 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 Artist-In-Education 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. One of her significant accomplishments was representing the state of Arkansas in Her Flag, a national project commemorating the 100th year anniversary of women's suffrage. She was commissioned by Arkansas' largest organ procurement organization to design their traveling #BeeADonor Traveling Art Installation which travelled around the state. And secured an international solo exhibition “Revelation” which debuted at the United States Embassy in Rome, Italy in 2015.
Currently, she lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas with her husband, David. You can find her work at The Art Group Gallery, The Galleries & Bookstore at Library Square in Little Rock, Arkansas and Justus Fine Art in Hot Springs, Arkansas.
