Biography:
From Polish ancestry, artist Cherie Dacko has family roots in Chicago, but was raised in Tampa. She graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Fine Art.
Following college, Cherie joined the El Sama artist co-op in Ybor City, Florida. She continued to paint and exhibit, but it was her "paycheck" job that allowed Cherie to perfect her technique. With 25 plus years in portrait, commercial and antique photo restoration, the artist developed award-winning skills for creating images of the human form. In 2007, after raising her son, she rented studio space in the historic district of Sanford, Florida and began painting full time. After 3 years, Dacko's style evolved into a unique style of portraiture she describes as "Bent Realism." The subjects are familiar but the distortion will challenge your comfort level.
An admitted people-watcher, Cherie is inspired by other-worldly costumes, multi-cultural celebrations, distant travel and all that is visually out of the ordinary.
"My work eliminates the boundaries of culture and eras, celebrates the imperfect and challenges the viewer to bend their concept of visual reality. Bent Realism gives the chance for others to see how a fertile imagination and serious skills can create a believable moment that would normally never occur in the real world."
Her distinctive style has garnered a loyal following ranging in ages 9 to 90. Cherie's work is in collections throughout the United States and in Canada, Russia and France. One particular bent portrait graces the workspace of political satirist Stephen Colbert.
Résumé:
Selected Exhibits
Nov. 15 - 17, 2019 - Art Under the Stars: 43rd Annual Maitland Rotary Art Festival , Maitland, FL
Nov. 17- Nov. 18, 2018 - Maitland Rotary Art Festival 2018, 42nd Annual, Maitland, FL
February 2018 – Dreamscapes, Dandelion Communitea Café, Thornton Park, Orlando, FL
February 2016 - 41st Annual Mount Dora Arts Festival, Mount Dora, FL
March 2015 - Cinematic Distractions and Dreams, Gallery at Avalon Island, Orlando.
March 2014 - Raymond James Gasparilla Festival of the Arts, Curtis Hixon Waterfront Park, Tampa, FL
October 2013 - Got Art? Gallery on First, Historic Hotchkiss Building, Sanford, FL
April 2013 - Expanding Visions, Florida Museum for Women Artists, DeLand, FL
March 2013 - pARTicipation: Class of 2011 and 2012, Maitland Art Center Galleries
April 2013 - Sideshow of the Senses: pARTicipation 2013, Maitland Art Center Mayan Courtyard and Galleries, Maitland, FL
September 2012 - Musique, On The Rocks, Downtown Arts District, Orlando, FL.
May 2012 - Visual Fringe at Lownden Shakespeare Theater, Orlando, FL
April 2012 - The 40th annual Santa Fe College Spring Arts Festival, Gainesville, FL
March 2012 - pARTicipation the Maitland Art Center, Maitland, FL
February 2012 - Heaven's Devils, Germaine Marvel Building, Maitland Art Center, Maitland, FL
January 2012- Pop Up Gallery, The Mosaic Station, Sanford, FL.
Nov. 2011- March 2012 - Biennial Six, The Museum of Florida Art, DeLand, FL
Sept - Nov. 2011- Second Annual Juried Exhibition the Florida Museum for Women Artists, DeLand, FL
August 2011- Private studio opened in historic downtown Sanford, FL
Dec 2010 - Booth in Fountain Miami, Wynwood Art District, Miami, FL, Art Basel week
July 2010 - BLEND: A Live Art Event Artist Collaboration, Orlando, FL
June 2010 - Hot Summer Nights, Gallery in Sanford, FL
May 2010 - Visual Fringe, Orlando Fringe Festival,,Lowdens Shakespeare Theater, Orlando
May 2010 - Masterpiece in a Day Silent Auction Benefit for Meals on Wheels, Etc. Rozzie Marks Gallery, Sanford, FL
Mar 2010 - Nude Nite Tampa, Tampa Armature Works, Tampa, FL
Mar 2010 - 100 4 $100. Extreme Art Show, Rozzie Marks Gallery, Sanford, FL
Feb 2010 - Nude Nite Orlando, Orlando, FL
Jan 2010 - Personal Armor: Artists' Concepts of Aprons, Blackrock Center for the Arts, Germantown, Maryland
Dec 2009 - Jan 2010 5th Annual Artists Registry Members Juried Exhibition Gallery at Avalon Island, Orlando FL
Dec 2009 - The Art of Giving, fundraiser for the Kids House of Seminole County Children's Advocacy Center
Oct. 2009 - Rach-tober: Music Meets Art, First Thursday Event, Orlando Museum of Art
May-June 2009 - A Matter of Art, Casselberry City Hall
May 2009 - Pinups, First Thursdays Event, Orlando Museum of Art
Jan-Feb 2009 - Vibrant Visions, Gallery at Avalon Island, Downtown Orlando, FL
Oct 2006 - Double Vision, Florida Artist of the Month solo show at Orlando Museum of Art's Founder's Gallery