Staircase Gallery
On View: i’m ok, i’m ok, okay! alright?
(portraits on a problem)
a collection of paintings by david c donovan
David is an interdisciplinary artist who recently relocated to Cedar Rapids Iowa to support the farmhouse art collective, which he co-founded in 2012. Across his creative practice, David has primarily explored emotional states and the impulses they create. He is drawn to the fringe, the delusional, and uncomfortable aspects of the contemporary American psyche.
This body of portrait-based work is comprised of mixed media paintings - many of which incorporate printmaking transfer techniques along with the various paint and drawing mediums. The photographic nature of the transferred figures brings realism to the portraits. The expressive mark making that surrounds and encompasses the figures creates a dream like state to the imagery.
About the gallery.
Nestled within the heart of the Farmhouse Art Collective, Staircase Gallery transforms an often-overlooked transitional space into a vibrant showcase for creativity. This unconventional gallery occupies the staircase leading to the second floor, a path that culminates in an unexpected end due to a private Airbnb suite.
Far from being a limitation, the dead-end serves as a metaphorical anchor, inviting visitors to reflect on themes of journeys, thresholds, and endings. Staircase Gallery embraces the narrow, vertical architecture, creating an intimate and immersive experience. Artworks climb the walls, guiding guests upward as they encounter a curated selection of paintings, prints, photography, and mixed-media installations.
The gallery is a testament to the Farmhouse Art Collective's ethos: celebrating resourcefulness, transforming overlooked spaces, and challenging traditional ideas of where art belongs. Whether you're drawn by curiosity or happenstance, Stairwell Gallery offers a moment of discovery, inviting you to pause, look closer, and appreciate the art within the unexpected.