about the artist

photo credit: kyla fear

Hi

I’m Leilani Nobuko Derr (she/her), I’m a visual artist and designer in Denver who explores thought-provoking themes through a lens of whimsical multiculturalism and surreal illustration. My work delves into how we use myth and folklore to find place, belonging, and understanding in our modern culture. I draw inspiration from an interweaving of my multi-cultural “hapa” upbringing, relentless curiosity, and power of artist advocacy.

I received my BA at Coastal Carolina University in South Carolina where I specialized in graphic design and printmaking. Since moving to Colorado in 2010, I spent much of my creative career designing in branding agencies and marketing departments for which I've been the recipient of multiple ADDY and SPJ awards. My passion for public art expanded during a decade of work as Creative Lead of Art and Design in Adams County, Colo. public libraries. While working as a designer for the seven branch district north of Denver, I specialized in art direction and helped to launch community art initiatives, partnering with local artists and organizations.

Most recently, I have been focusing on surreal, illustrative multi-media projects exploring my journey to seek belonging and identity as a mixed Japanese-American artist and what manifests when those connections are diminished through assimilation, racism, objectification, and confusion. The saturated hues in my work tend to clash and vibrate next to each other. They are often intentionally ambiguous as a reflection of the vague spaces I often fall between with my cultural and racial identities.