Denise Giordano: An Artistic Journey

​Denise Giordano’s art is accomplished using several different media and techniques. But each piece shares a compositional sense of elegance and the promise of a story, executed with a sparing hand.

Working with an extensive fusion of organic natural media, including papers, fibers, and threads, Giordano bridges the gap between sculptural 3D work and 2D pieces. Her practice includes tearing and burning, working with smoke and soot as a medium, the perception being that nothing lasts forever; that everything and everyone evolves and is shaped by life’s happenings. Giordano is fascinated by erosion and how its effects can give a new altered life to an object. She sees this erosion as an analogy of the human condition. “Your artwork is you, and you too shall change,” she states. Using digital imagery, as well as her sculptural work, her artistic versatility demonstrates her ability to see the world from different perspectives.
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Her latest body of work, developed with fellow artist photographer Fatima Donaldson, is based on an experience with the work of Georgia O’Keefe. After journeying to Santa Fe, New Mexico to look closer at the drama of O’Keefe’s work, philosophy, and life, they were inspired to consider their personal journeys into self.

Denise Giordano, "Look Closer"

Denise Giordano, "Senka"

Denise Giordano, "Take Me To Church"

​​Looking back at herself and her practice, Denise tells us how she began her artistic journey in a completely different environment in this interview:

-Question: What was your art path? 
 I’ve always had a passion for art since I was as young as 6 years old. I played around with oil paints,         won a few awards in school, but had no technical training. I was accepted into the High School of Art and Design in New York City, but only lasted three months. I entered the corporate world, and never looked back… until recently. With that said, I believe that my creativity carried me through my career, in many forms.
-Question: Why the move from New York City to Houston?
I worked on Wall Street in New York until 1999, when I came to Houston to work in the energy industry. It wasn’t until 2018 that I started doing my artwork, and entered the Houston art scene.
-Question: What is the background of the "smoke and soot technique” ?
I came across something on Instagram and just started playing around, first with candles, then with kerosene. The ethereal feeling makes it special to me. You can’t control the smoke……and it just feels right.

Denise’s dramatic style captures the imagination, whether it be with bursts of bright colors or stark black and white. See more of her work here.