Delano Dunn

Delano Dunn was born in Los Angeles. He is an artist and educator living and working in Chicago, Illinois. Through painting, mixed media, and collage, Dunn explores questions of racial identity and perception through various contexts, ranging from the personal to the political, and drawing from his experience growing up in South Central L.A.

Background

MFA, Fine Arts, School of Visual Arts; New York, NY (2016)

BFA Communication Design, Pratt Institute; Brooklyn, NY (2001)

Assistant Professor–Teaching Fellow, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago, IL (2019-present)

The Root 100 Most Influential African Americans (2019)

Normal Editions Projects

Dunn participated in a collaborative project with Normal Editions Workshop as part of the Visiting Artist Program in the Wonsook Kim School of Art at Illinois State University with a short-term residency during the fall semester and a public lecture at University Galleries on October 11, 2023.

artist at work

Artist Delano Dunn drawing on a lithographic stone at Normal Editions Workshop in 2023.

Resources

Artist Website

PBS News Hour “Brief But Spectacular” feature

Prints from Normal Editions

Wash the Black Off Ya

Delano Dunn
two-color lithograph
10" x 8"
edition size: 30 numbered impressions
signed by the artist
copyright 2025
N.E.W. work #24-103

View in Detail on Flickr

Available for sale

$200.00

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Collaboration with Delano Dunn

drawing on a litho stone

Visiting Artist, Delano Dunn, begins his drawing on a lithographic stone at Normal Editions

adding a wash

Delano Dunn adds to the drawing on the lithographic stone by using a wash (wet media) in combination with crayon marks

working in the studio

Delano Dunn works with a wash on the lithographic stone

splatter technique

Delano Dunn uses a brush dipped in the wash for a splatter affect in building up the image on the lithographic stone

perfecting the edges

Delano Dunn gives extra attention to the edges of the wash image on the lithographic stone

brush technique

Close up view of Delano Dunn's brush technique applying wash to the lithographic stone

color samples

Delano Dunn reviews color samples in the swatches book to initiate color pallet discussions for the two-color lithograph. Custom colors will be mixed from the resulting discussion.

Collaborative Printer and Visiting Artist

Morgan Price, Collaborative Printer, and Delano Dunn, Visiting Artist at Normal Editions during Dunn's collaborative project visit

Right to Print selected

Morgan Price watches Delano Dunn signing the "Right to Print" (RTP) impression from a choice of color trial proofs on different paper options

signature

Delano Dunn signs his name as the mark of approval for the Right to Print (RTP) impression from which the edition will be judged as acceptable or unacceptable

Delano Dunn with signed R.T.P. impression

Delano Dunn and Morgan Price display the signed Right to Print "RTP" impression which signals the approval to begin edition printing

edition printing: run 1

Morgan Price prepares to print the first run of the edition for Delano Dunn's two-color lithograph.

sponging the plate

Shaylee Adkins sponges the plate for the first run.

rolling the ink

Morgan Price rolls the ink on the lithographic plate for the first run.

placing the paper

Morgan Price places the printing paper while Shaylee Adkins has the backing sheet of newsprint ready to protect the printing paper.

newsprint and tympan

Shaylee Adkins has placed the newsprint backing sheet while Morgan Price reaches for the plexiglass tympan to cover the prepared plate and papers.

cranking the press

Morgan Price cranks the press to apply the pressure in the lithography press.

tympan over plate and paper

Morgan Price and Shaylee Adkins prepare to reveal the printed impression. Note the grease has been redistributed on the tympan for the next time thru the press.

impression revealed

Morgan Price and Shaylee Adkins carefully remove the printed impression from the plate.

hot off the press

Morgan Price and Shaylee Adkins review the freshly printed impression to note its quality or see if adjustments are needed.

sponging for run 2

Alex Cox sponges the lithographic stone for the edition printing of run 2.

sponging close-up

Close-up view of sponging by Alex Cox during run 2 of Delano Dunn's two-color lithgraph.

edition printing: run 2

Alex Cox gives the stone a final pass with the sponge as Morgan Price prepares to apply the ink with the roller.

ink applied from the roller

Morgan Price applied ink to the lithographic stone. Note the evidence of the image in the surface of the ink on the roller--showing the ink was removed from the roller in the image areas as it rolled over the drawn image.

applying the printed paper

Morgan Price carefully places an impression from Run 1 to the stone's registration marks to receive the second color in Run 2.

revealing the printed impression

Morgan Price peels up the printed impression of Run 2 from the stone to reveal the completed two-color lithograph.