ARTIST BIOGRAPHY
Virmarie DePoyster is a Puerto Rican born multidisciplinary artist, educator, and community leader. As a practicing artist, she explores the complexities of identity. As an educator, she develops therapeutic art programs, providing safe spaces for self-reflection. And as a community leader, she advocates for equality and inclusion. Virmarie secured a solo exhibition, “Revelation,” which debuted at the United States Embassy in Rome, Italy. She was chosen to represent Arkansas in Her Flag, a national project commemorating 100 years of women's suffrage. Her exhibition, "Beyond Labels," first opened in October 2022 at The Arts & Science Center for Southeast Arkansas in Pine Bluff. It subsequently traveled to the Fort Smith Regional Art Museum in November 2023 and then opened at the South Arkansas Arts Center in September 2024.
DePoyster has developed and implemented various art programs throughout the state of Arkansas. Since 2011, she has instructed students as part of the Arkansas Arts Council's Arts in Education Roster. From 2012 to 2018, she created a therapeutic art program for at-risk youth in rural Arkansas. She has provided arts instruction to thousands of patients at an acute care mental health facility in Little Rock. There, she saw firsthand the healing power of artistic expression. She has also facilitated professional development workshops through an artist-teacher partnership with the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards. In 2023, DePoyster started Healing Arts, a therapeutic art program for CARTI patients, caregivers, and staff. In 2024, she facilitated an After School Residency in Pine Bluff honoring Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, and Harriet Tubman.
DePoyster's paintings are featured in private and public collections worldwide, as well as in the United States. She currently lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas, with her husband, David. They look forward to visits from their adult children, Grant and Anna. You can find her work at the Art Group Gallery.
DePoyster has developed and implemented various art programs throughout the state of Arkansas. Since 2011, she has instructed students as part of the Arkansas Arts Council's Arts in Education Roster. From 2012 to 2018, she created a therapeutic art program for at-risk youth in rural Arkansas. She has provided arts instruction to thousands of patients at an acute care mental health facility in Little Rock. There, she saw firsthand the healing power of artistic expression. She has also facilitated professional development workshops through an artist-teacher partnership with the National Coalition for Core Arts Standards. In 2023, DePoyster started Healing Arts, a therapeutic art program for CARTI patients, caregivers, and staff. In 2024, she facilitated an After School Residency in Pine Bluff honoring Rosa Parks, Ruby Bridges, and Harriet Tubman.
DePoyster's paintings are featured in private and public collections worldwide, as well as in the United States. She currently lives in North Little Rock, Arkansas, with her husband, David. They look forward to visits from their adult children, Grant and Anna. You can find her work at the Art Group Gallery.
