My parents did not know I was born deaf until six years later. I started drawing and painting at that time as a way of communicating with them. My parents did not know sign language. I grew up going to a Deaf Oral program in San Diego.

All of my childhood life, I was always creating new pieces, and exhibited my artwork—everything from painting rocks to canvases—at art fairs, in contests, and at galleries from childhood to high school.  I went on to study graphic design and painting at the National Technical Institute of the Deaf and Rochester Institute of Technology in New York and earned a master’s degree in computer graphic design and painting.

In 1979, I had my very first showing at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C. I then was among the 12 Deaf artists participating at the Heart, Eye, Hand exhibit (click to see picture) held at the Los Angeles-based Ankrum Gallery. The gallery was owned by Joan Ankrum, Morris Broderson’s aunt. Morris Broderson was a famous Deaf artist. It was at this point in my life that I stopped painting. I did not have full confidence in my chances at success in the art community, so I chose to become a 9-to-5 employee.

I worked as a graphic designer for 20+ years. I was a graphic designer at Xerox in San Diego. My next job was as a palette designer for 20th Century Fox, where I created color palettes to colorize classic black and white films such as Casablanca, King Kong, Sherlock Holmes, and numerous John Wayne films. In 1991, I moved to Seattle, where I worked as a graphic designer for Microsoft Corporation designing Windows icons.
I unexpectedly got laid off. I decided it was time to get back to painting. I took a couple of workshops in preparation for my return to painting business. For eight years, I painted everything from portraits to landscapes and cityscapes to still life.

It was until 2010, I started making art that is based on the Deaf culture, history and Deaf experience. I had discovered my passion.

Artist's Statement

As an artist who is Deaf, my paintings bear witness to the experiences of Deaf people who have lived in a world controlled primarily by people who carry the history that “Deaf people are born senseless and incapable of reason” (Aristotle, 348-322 BC). To challenge this, my paintings show both the truth of how we are oppressed and how our community celebrates our collective identity and culture.

My work is clearly identifiable because I work with primary colours and never mix these colours. Each colour carries meaning. Red refers to empowerment or taking a stand for justice. Yellow communicates hope for the future and liberation of spirit. Yellow is also used in my paintings because Deaf people value light for the ability
to see to understand information. In my work, there are two blue tones. Light blue means happiness and the Deafhood journey to a self-actualization. Darker blue refers to Audism and oralism. To reinforce the primarily colours, I utilize black and white colours. My paintings tend to include three key elements: A theme, a category, and a selection of motifs. What is the painting about? What is the focal point? What do the motifs represent?
In my painting, The Dinner Table Syndrome, the theme is about how Deaf people are commonly left out during holiday gatherings and unable to follow what people are discussing. The category of this painting is resistance which means I am telling a truth about discrimination that Deaf people face. The painting has eleven motifs such as table, wallpaper, blue tapes, hands, eyes, ears, mouths, maze, DNA, black hole, and missing puzzle pieces.

I make political statements through my art that addresses social justice, activism, human rights, and Deaf solidarity. Categories I use in my paintings are primarily that of resistance, affirmation, and liberation. Topics shown in resistance art include the mask of benevolence, linguistic controversies, oralism, mainstreaming, genetic engineering, communication barriers, colonialism, paternalism, and audism. In affirmation art, the work shows a celebration of ASL, Deaf culture, identity, Deaf history, and Deafhood as well as Deaf empowerment.
In liberation art, resistance and affirmation messages work together to show the journey from oppression to empowerment. The term that refers to the recognizable style and content of my paintings is Rourkeism.

The Art Process 

I am also influenced by the Fauvism Movement and the Neo-Expressionist Movement because there are bold colours that attract me. Monochrome are used for saturated color areas. I make vivid brushstroke marks and make paintings much more powerful. I do quite abit of ‘direct painting,’ which is done in a single application. That means using a one-opaque painting technique. Painting from light to dark. Vary types of brush strokes, from thick to thin and short to long marks. Alot of 'scrubbing' in many directions. I do 'scumbling' with a dry brush, too. That means to soften the color of a painted area by overlaying parts with opaque color applied lightly with an almost dry brush. 

My palette

Example and Meaning of Symbols in the paintings:

Blue tape: tied-down, trapped, crossed-out, mask of benevolence, labeled, ASL prohibited.
Yellow light: so that Deaf people can see.
Yellow color: Hope and light.
Red/white circle: attention, target, focal point.
Light gray-blueish color: Deafhood.
DNA structure: genetic engineering, Deaf Hereditary, Deaf gene, Eugenics.
Hand: Deaf people, Deaf pride, Deaf culture, language and Communication.
Ear, mouth: Audism, oralism, genetic engineering, Eugenics, Alexander Graham Bell.
Red/blue eyebrows: my art style.
Heart: Deaf heart, Deaf mind.
Strings: tied down, audism, trapped, colonialism, Deaf person as a puppet.
Cracks: almost extincted, disappearing and warning.
Bandaid: warning, safe, protection.
Black/blue/white color: oralism, audism and Mask of Benevolence.
Elephant: Alexander Graham Bell and his associates.
Yellow Horse: Deaf people.
Black hole/Circles: invasion, attacking, Second Wave of Oralism.
Red Mountain: Deaf people fighting to stay strong, to overcome Oralism.

To get a better understanding of my De'VIA work, see vlog at:
Understanding De'VIA Work by Nancy Rourke
Video clipping documented by Nancy Rourke 8:55 October 21, 2011

Curriculum Vitae 1978-2024 

Awards, Honors and Grants

2024 The music group  PLUME BAND from Munich, Germany, wrote a song “Deaf Culture Society.” My painting,            ORALISM BACKLASH is on their album cover.
2023  Arts & Business Partnership Award: Modivcare for recognizing the mural painting.  
2023 Accused TV Series 2023 with "Ava's Story" my painting of Chuck Baird.
2022 Presenter: My life as an artist, The Silesian Museum, Katowice, Poland Take a look at nancyrourkeinpoland.
2019 Presenter: De'VIA: Understanding Motifs & Themes, ARTiculating Deaf Experience Conference, NTID, Rochester, NY
2019 Presenter: Understanding De’VIA & Curriculum, VSA Intersections: Arts & Special Education Conference, Irvine, CA
2019 Laurent Clerc painting is permanently collected at the Laurent Clerc Museum, La Balme-les-Grottes, France.
2019 Laurent Clerc Award from Laurent Clerc Cultural Fund at Gallaudet University, Washington, DC.
2018 Painting, “Interpreter v.2” shown on London film, Reverberations, London, England.
2018 Colegio San Gabriel Para Sordos, San Juan, Puerto Rico.
2017 Deaf Arts Festival Masquerade Gala, Keynote Speakers, Detroit, Michigan.
2017 Bridge from De’VIA to Surdism Presentation at Clin d’Oeil, Salon Degermann, Reims, France.
2017 Artist in Residency, Brooklyn, Michigan.
2017 Mural painting with Deaf Students and Paint Wine event at Deaf Visual Arts Festival, St. Louis, MO
2016 Video Presentation at Artspace Kivotos in Athens, Greece.
2016 De’VIA Artist Talk, Colorado De’VIA at Curfman Gallery, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.
2016 De’VIA/Surdism Talk at RIT/NTID, Rochester, New York.
2016 Color Us D-E-A-F Presentation at Deaf Spotlight, Seattle, Washington.
2015 Deaf Art+Activist=ARTivist Presentation at Columbia College Chicago, Chicago, Illinois.
2015 Deafhood Journey to Artivism Presentation at University of New Hampshire, Manchester, New Hampshire.
2015 From Deafhood to Artivism Presentation at University of Virginia, Charlottesville, Virginia.
2015 Ohio School School for the Deaf, on a special project for Deaf students, Artist in Residence, Columbia, OH
2015 Deaf Women/De'VIA Artists Presentation/Workshop at Deaf Women United, Berkeley, CA.
2015 De'VIA Grafitti at Access Gallery, Denver, Colorado.
2015 De'VIA Wine and Paint in Frederick, Maryland.
2015 De'VIA Workshop at Rocky Mountain Deaf School, Denver, Colorado.
2015 De'VIA Presentation/Workshop at Model Secondary School for the Deaf, Washington, DC. See vlog.
2015 Youth De’VIA Competition, Olathe, Kansas.
2015 Deaf Women History of 2015, #3 of 31 Days in March, Nancy Rourke Deaf Women United.
2015 Deaf Professional Artists Network D-PAN featured Nancy Rourke. See vlog.
2015 ASL Teachers Association, Judging for the ASL Youth Art Competition, nationwide.
2014 De'VIA Presentation at Pikes Peak Community College, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
2014 De'VIA Painting Workshop/Presentation at Deaf Women's Retreat, Aspen Camp, Aspen, Colorado.
2013 De'VIA Presentation at Calgary Association of the Deaf, Calgary, Alberta Canada.
2013 De'VIA Presentations at Queen Elizabeth Schools, Calgary, Alberta Canada.
2013 Honorary De'VIA Presentation at Eastern Alberta Association of the Deaf, Edmondton, Alberta Canada.
2013 De'VIA Presentation and Artist in Residency at Alberta School for the Deaf, Edmondton, Alberta Canada.
2013 De'VIA Presentations at University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
2013 De'VIA Presentation at Columbia College, Chicago, Il.
2013 De'VIA Presentation at Madonna University, Livonia, Michigan.
2013 De'VIA Presentation at Michigan School for the Deaf, Flint, Michigan.
2013 Tiger Talks NTID's 45th Anniversary, Five Artists Painted "Unity of Eyeth." Rochester, New York.
2013 International Art Exhibition, "The World is Heard by the Soul" in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
2013 ABC Family Channel, Switched at Birth, Winter Premiere, First episode, One-Handed Alphabet poster.
2012 Honorary Committee, Deaf Arts Festival Board, Brooklyn, Michigan.
2012 Received a President's Circle pin from Gallaudet University, for recognizing 'We Came, We Saw, We Conquered.'
2011 RIT American Sign Language and Deaf Studies Community Center, 'Sign Internationally' painting as its logo, Rochester, NY.
2010 Sorenson Communications, Judging for the Deaf Youth Art Contest, Salt Lake City, Utah.
2010 Nancy Rourke has received the Puffin Foundation, LTD. Artist Grant.
2010 Wells Fargo Ski Cup, Ski Up High poster print autograph, Winter Park, Colorado
2009 Panel discussion/Hands-on at Innovation & Creativity at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY.
2008 Heartland Arts Festival Southeast Nebraska Regional Program for the Deaf Students, Lincoln, Nebraska
2006 Juried Sweet-Art Show, Loveland, Colorado merit
2005 Celebrate America, Detroit, Michigan second
2005 Juried Sweet-Art Show, Loveland, Colorado second
2002 Regional Juried Show, Loveland, Colorado second
2002 Edmund Lyon Memorial Lectureship, Rochester, New York (click on link to see website)

Solo Exhibitions
2021: Nancy Rourke Solo Show at Access Gallery, Denver, Colorado.
2019 Nancy Rourke Solo Show at College at Western Idaho, Nampa, Idaho.
2015 Solo Interview at ASL SLAM, Hamburger Mary's, Denver, Colorado.
2015 Nancy Rourke Solo Show, University of New Hampshire, Manchester, New Hampshire.
2015 Nancy Rourke Solo Show, Columbia College, Chicago, Ill.
2013 Alberta School for the Deaf, Edmondton, Alberta Canada.
2012 Mask of Benevolence Painting at Mozzeria Restaurant in San Francisco, California.
2012 Artist of the Month, Ziggi's Coffeehouse, Longmont, Colorado.
2011 Featured Artist, Deaf Arts Festival, Brooklyn, Michigan
2011 Nancy Rourke - The Expressionist Paintings Booth at Rainbow Alliance for the Deaf, Denver, Colorado
2011 Nancy Rourke - The Expressionist Paintings Booth at DeafNation Deaf Expo, Riverside, California
2010 Solo Show - 'Paintings about Deafhood, Deaf History and Audism', Dyer Arts Center at NTID/RIT, Rochester, NY
2010 Nancy Rourke - The Expressionist Paintings Booth at DeafNation World Deaf Expo, Las Vegas, Nevada
2010 Featured Artist, Mandolin Cafe, Loveland, Colorado
2009 Featured Artist, D-PAN, Deaf Professional Artists Network online gallery
2009 SOLO of Nancy Rourke's Deaf History and Deaf Culture at Colorado Association of the Deaf, Loveland, CO
2009 SOLO of Nancy Rourke's Joie de Vivre 2 at Alliance Franchaise Denver in the Santa Fe Arts District, Denver
2008 SOLO of Nancy Rourke's Joie de Vivre at Access Gallery in the Santa Fe Arts District, Denver, CO
2007 SOLO of Nancy Rourke's work at Kalediscope Gallery #113 in Bassett, Nebraska
2007 Featured Artist, Studio 6 Coffeehouse at Nine10 Arts, in the Santa Fe Arts District, Denver, CO
2007 Artist of the Month, Barnes & Noble Bookstore, Loveland, Colorado
2006 Featured Artist, VSA arts Access Gallery in the Santa Fe Arts District, Denver, CO
2005 Featured Artist, VSA arts Access Gallery in the Santa Fe Arts District, Denver, CO
2004 Featured Artist, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, Colorado
2004 Art Stroll, Loveland Museum and Gallery, Loveland, Colorado
2002 Honored Lecturer Exhibition, Dyer Arts Center, Rochester, New York
1985 MFA Thesis Exhibition, Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York

Selected Group Exhibitions
2023 "River of Truth", Linda K. Jordan Gallery, Washburn Arts Center, Gallaudet University, Washington D.C. July 5-28, 2023
2019 De'VIA: The Manifesto Comes of Age Exhibition at Memorial Art Gallery Museum, Rochester, NY
2019 Florida Deaf Art Show, Tampa, Florida.
2019 Deaf Art Show at Washburn Arts Building, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC.
2019 Hear Me! at the Philadelphia Counsil Center, Philadelphia, Pennysivania.
2018 50thAnniversary/50 Artists Show, Dyer Arts Center, NTID/RIT, Rochester, New York
2018 #De’VIAChallenge Exhibition, Dyer Arts Center, NTID/RIT, Rochester, New York
2017 Artistry through Deaf Eyes, The Studio Door Gallery, San Diego, California
2017 Three Featured Artists at Salon Degermann, Reims, France.
2016 Colorado De’VIA, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, Colorado.
2016 To Deafhood With Love, Art Museum of Rochester (AMoR), Rochester, New York.
2016 De’VIA 29 Day Challenge Display, Nelson-Aktins Museum of Art, Kansas City, Missouri.
2016 Color Us D-E-A-F exhibition, DeafSpotlight, Seattle, Washington.
2015 Pepco Edison's "Light There Be Light: De'ARTivism", Washington DC.
2014 II International Art Exhibition "The world heard the soul - Moscow 2014" Art Space Gallery of People's Artist of Russia Dmitry Belyukin.
2014 De'VIA 50th Anniversary Gala/Art Auction, at National Center on Deafness, California State University of Northridge, Northridge, California.
2014 De'VIA 25th Anniversary Art Show, Access Gallery in the Santa Fe Arts District, Denver, Colorado.
2014 99 Pieces of Art on the Wall, VSA arts Access Gallery in the Santa Fe Arts District, Denver, CO
2014 Deaf Arts Festival at Arts, Beats & Eats, Royal Oak, Michigan.
2014 De'VIA Banquet/Art Exhibition at Dyer Arts Center, at National Technical Institute of the Deaf at RIT, Rochester, New York.
2014 DeafQuest's De'VIA Art Show at Ravenswood Art Walk, Chicago, Illinois.
2014 Deaf Expo/Art Show at the Independence Expo, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
2014 De'VIA New Wave Juried Art Show, Washburn Arts Building, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC.
2013 De'VIA Marketplace, Brick City 45th Reunion at RIT/NTID, Rochester, New York
2013 Tiger Talks NTID's 45th Anniversary, Five Artists Painted "Unity of Eyeth." Rochester, New York.
2013 Deaf Artists Gallery at Ravenwood Walk, Chicago, Illinois.
2013 International Art Exhibition, "The World is Heard by the Soul" in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
2013 Deaf Arts Festival at Arts, Beats & Eats, Royal Oak, Michigan.
2013 Engage! Exposure! Experiment! Exhibit! Juried Art Show, Washburn Arts Building, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC.
2012 Jon Savage's 7240 Gallery, Space4Art, San Diego, California.
2012 Art & Chocolate at VisArts, Washington Society of Jewish Deaf, Rockville, Maryland.
2012 De'VIA Deaf Art Show, National Center on Deafness, California State University of Northridge, Northridge, California.
2012 De'VIA Show with Three Deaf Artists, Access Gallery, VSA Colorado, Denver, Colorado.
2012 Deaf Arts Festival at Arts, Beats & Eats, Royal Oak, Michigan.
2012 DeafNation World Expo Art Gallery, Mandalay Bay Resort, Las Vegas
2012 National Association of the Deaf, Louiseville, Kentucky, Live Auction.
2012 De'VIA Museum at Deaf Studies Today, Utah Valley University, Orem, Utah.
2012 Visual Reflections by Deaf Artists, Washburn Art Center, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC.
2012 Deaf Artists' Exhibit at the ASL Fest, Texas School for the Deaf, Austin, Texas.
2011 Deaf Introspective, Two Deaf Artists Show at Dyer Arts Center, NTID/RIT, Rochester, New York
2011 De'VIA Art Show at Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, Frederick, Maryland
2010 'Honoring Deaf People in their Community' Deaf Awareness Month at Front Range Community College, Westminister, CO
2010 ADA 20th Anniversary Celebrate, Nancy Rourke Expressionist Paintings Booth and Show, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, CO
2010 French Summer Soiree, Alliance Franchaise Denver, Denver Botanic Gardens, Denver, CO
2010 99 Pieces of Art on the Wall, VSA arts Access Gallery in the Santa Fe Arts District, Denver, CO
2010 Two Deaf Artists Show, 'On the Other Hand', VSA arts Access Gallery, Denver, Colorado
2010 Fellowship for The Foundation for Children in Need, Arlington Heights, Illinois
2009 Black Diamond Ball, Broncos Invesco Field Mile High, Denver, Colorado
2009 De'VIA Deaf Artists Show, National Center on Deafness, California State University of Northridge, Northridge, California
2009 Dove's Benefit Dinner, Coors Field, Denver, Colorado
2007 June Juried Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, Colorado
2007 99 Pieces of Art, VSA arts Access Gallery in the Santa Fe Arts District, Denver, CO
2007 Art Students League Gallery, Denver, Colorado
2006, 2007 Two Deaf Artists Show, The Children's Hospital Gallery, Denver, Colorado
2005 Celebrate America Deaf Art, Holley Ear Institute, Detroit, Michigan
2005 Juried Sweet-Art Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, Colorado
2002 Regional Juried Show, Lincoln Gallery, Loveland, Colorado
1986 Twelve Deaf Artists, Ankrum Gallery, Beverly Hills, California
1978 Deaf American Artists, National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.

Selected Bibliography
The Maine Campus article, written by Sydney Lorom, October 2, 2023 "UMaine celebrates renowned Deaf Artist Nancy Rourke" 
Magazine article Art of the Deaf about Nancy Rourke's paintings, from the Forom Ecoute, Lausanne, Switzerland.
Book cover: Jean Massieu (1772-1846) by Christian Dumaitre, Paris, France.
Book cover: University of Criminal Justice and Police Studies in Belgrade, Serbia, Deaf Beaten on book cover Police Violence, by Zoran Kesic, PhD, Assistant Professor.
Book cover: Unity of Global Signing painting image of The Legal Recognition of Sign Languages: Advocacy and Outcomes Around the World, by Maartje De Meulder (Editor), Joseph J. Murray (Editor), Rachel L. McKee (Editor), Multilingual Matters June 2019.
Book cover: Visualizing for front cover of Visual-Gestural Communication: A Workbook in Nonverbal Expression and Reception, Author Willy Conley, Routledge April 2019.
Book cover: Friends for front cover of The Silence Between Us, I See You, Now Hear Me, Blink Press, Author Alison Gervais, August 2019.
Three paintings in Harper’s Magazine, September Issue 2018 Vol. 337, No. 2020
Book cover: How Much Did I Understand, Language Deprivation and the Deaf Mental Health, Routledge, Authors Neil S. Glickman and Wyatte C. Hall.
English film, "REVERBERATIONS", shows a part of my painting, Interpreter v.2, 2018, London, England.
Book cover: Stand for Justice, The Oxford Handbook of Deaf Studies in Language, Oxford University Press, Author Marc Marschark & Patricia Elizabeth Spencer.
Book cover: Turkish Sign Language Translation Book, Istanbul, Turkey.
Signing Naturally Units 1-6 curricular materials, with three Nancy Rourke painting images.
Grupo Positivo, textbook for elementary schools, with "Understanding Deaf Culture" image, Brazil.
DeafKan Deaf Kids Art Network, April 2014, Interview with Nancy Rourke.
Book cover: We Came We Saw We Conquered, Textbook: "Bilingual Education for the Deaf: Policy and Practice" from University of Parana, in Curitiba, Brazil, Sept 2014
Nancy Rourke: Deaf Artist Series, Empyreal Press, Author Jim Van Manen, Phd, First Edition, Oct 2014.
Featured Artist-Nancy Rourke, Deaf Studies Digital Journal, Spring 2014 Fourth Issue.
Understanding Deaf People in Counseling Contexts, Counseling Today magazine, October 2013 Issue, page 38 of ASL PRIDE painting.
Silent Interview with Thomsen Young at the Silent Grapevine, February 2013.
Art'Pi. Deaf French Arts Magazine, Paris, France, October 2012 Issue, page 37.
October 2012 Issue No. 9 magazine Bibliothèque Publique d'Information, Paris, France, "dossier être Sourd," page 13-15.
Introduction to American Deaf Culture Today, Oxford University Press, Author Thomas K.Holcomb, First Edition, Oct 2012.
'Mask of Benevolence Appears on Our Wall,' a San Francisco based restaurant Mozzeria, May Issue.
Featured Artist-Nancy Rourke, Deaf Studies Digital Journal, Spring 2012 Third Issue.
Art'Pi, Deaf French Arts Magazine, Paris,France, April Issue 2012, page 8.
Art'Pi, Deaf French Arts Magazine, Paris,France, November 2011 Issue, page 8 of 'Ethnic Deaf' painting.
DeafLife magazine, August 2011 Issue #188, Cover magazine of George Veditz painting.
Understanding Deafhood, Clerc Scar's Laurent Newsletter February 2011.
Featured Artist-Nancy Rourke, Deaf Studies Digital Journal, Fall 2010 Second Issue.
Our Bicultural Evolution, RIT Athenaeum, October/November 2010. Cover Page
A work of art , The Tiger Beat Blog, Rochester Institute of Technology, University News, October/November 2010.
Campus Spotlight, University News, Rochester Institute of Technology, October 2010.
Celebrate Deaf Awareness Month, Sorenson Communications, September 2010.
Four Paintings on Audism, KISS-FIST e-magazine, June 2010.
Incompatible, Clercscar, Online Publication of the Signing Community, February 2010.
Meet the Artists- Nancy Rourke, D-PAN Deaf Professional Artists Network November, 2009.
Spotlight on Nancy Rourke, SIGNews by Raymond Luczak 2007.
RIT/NTID Deaf Art/Deaf Artists, Deaf Artist in Painting., February 2005.
Deaf Artist Colorado in Art Registry, VSA, Washington, D.C., December 2005.
Deaf Woman Artist Receives Lyons Lectureship, Deaf Rochester News, April/May 2002.
Rourke Named NTID Distinguished Lecturer, RIT News & Events, Vol. 34, No. 13. March 14, 2002.
Signs of Success, Loveland Daily Herald-Reporter, Focus, Section B, March 4, 2002.

Lectures
2023 Presenter: De'VIA/Surdism, University of Southern Maine, Portland, Maine Youtube: https://youtu.be/PBX7PdX-yeI?si=zK-OK3zQwueIOmbN
2022 Presenter: My life as an artist, The Silesian Museum, Katowice, Poland.
2019 Presenter: De'VIA: Understanding Motifs & Themes, ARTiculating Deaf Experience Conference, NTID, Rochester, NY
2019 Presenter: Understanding De’VIA & Curriculum, VSA Intersections: Arts & Special Education Conference, Irvine, CA
2019 Surdism presentation at Clin d'Oeil, Reims, France.
2019 Nancy Rourke: Exploring a marginalized culture through art, The '60s exploring the limits symposium, UNCG, Greensboro, North Carolina.
2019 My De'VIA Journey Presentation at College of Western Idaho, Nampa, Idaho.
2018 De’VIA/Surdism Presentation at Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture, Olathe, Kansas.
2018 Rourkeism/De’VIA Presentation at San Bernardino Valley College, San Bernardino, California.
2018 Video Presentation at TOPS school district, Seattle, Washington.
2018 Video Presentation at Onondaga Community College, Syracuse, New York.
2018 Artist’s Talk at St. Louis Community College, St. Louis, Missouri.
2017 De’VIA Presentation at Mt. San Antonio College, Walnut, CA.
2017 De’VIA Curriculum Development project with 24 Art teachers, Indiana School for the Deaf, Indianapolis, Indiana.
2016 De’VIA Curriculum Development project with 24 Art teachers, Kansas School for the Deaf, Olathe, Kansas.
2015 De’VIA Curriculum Development project with fifteen Deaf schools, California School for the Deaf, Fremont, California.
2015 Deaf Women and De’VIA Workshop at Deaf Women United conference, Berkeley, California.
2015 Artist's Talk, for the Deaf Culture Studies at Pikes Peak Community College, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
2015 Artist’s Presentation at Mountain Vista High School, Highlands Ranch, Colorado.
2015 De'VIA Workshop/Presentation at Ohio School for the Deaf, Columbus, Ohio.
2015 De'VIA Presentation at Virginia School for the Deaf and Blind, Staunton, Virginia.
2015 De'VIA Presentation at University of Virginia, Charolettville, Virginia.
2015 De'VIA Presentation at University of New Hampshire, Manchester, New Hampshire
2015 De'VIA Presentation at Columbia College, Chicago, Ill.
2015 De'VIA Curriculum Development Project, California School for the Deaf, Fremont, CA.
2015 Deaf Women/De'VIA Artists Presentation/Workshop at Deaf Women United, Berkeley, CA.
2015 De'VIA Workshop at Rocky Mountain Deaf School, Denver, Colorado.
2015 De'VIA Presentation at Maryland School for the Deaf, Frederick, Maryland.
2015 De'VIA Workshop at Kendall Demonstration Elementary School, Washington, DC.
2015 De'VIA Presentation/Workshop at Model Secondary School for the Deaf, Washington, DC.
2014 Artist's Talk, for the Deaf Culture Studies at Pikes Peak Community College, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
2014 De'VIA Workshop at Rocky Mountain Deaf School for Middle and High Schoolers, Denver, Colorado.
2013 De'VIA Presentation at Calgary Association of the Deaf for K to 12, Calgary, Alberta Canada.
2013 De'VIA Presentations at Queen Elizabeth Schools for K to 12, Calgary, Alberta Canada.
2013 De'VIA Presentation at Alberta School for the Deaf for elementary to high schoolers, Edmondton, Alberta Canada.
2013 De'VIA Presentations at University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
2013 De'VIA Presentation at Columbia College, Chicago, Il.
2013 De'VIA Workshop at Madonna University for Middle Schoolers, Livonia, Michigan.
2013 De'VIA Presentation at Michigan School for the Deaf, Flint, Michigan.
2013 Deafhood to Artivism, Presentation at NTID, Rochester, New York.
2013 International Art Exhibition, "The World is Heard by the Soul" in Saint Petersburg, Russia.
2013 De'VIA Presentation at Mississippi School for the Deaf and Blind for K to 12, Jackson, Mississippi.
2012 De'VIA Workshop at Access Gallery, Denver, Colorado.
2012 Video interview with DeafNation's No Barriers with Joel Barish at Access Gallery, Denver, Colorado.
2012 Artist's Video Presentation, for the Deaf Culture Studies at Pikes Peak Community College, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
2012 Panel discussion at University of Colorado at Boulder, Colorado.
2012 Artist's Talk, for the ASL/Deaf Culture class at K-8 Monarch School, Louisville, Colorado.
2011 Hands-On Activity/Presentation on 'What is De'VIA?' at RIT ASL and Deaf Studies Community Center, Rochester, NY.
2011 Artist's Talk, at Dyer Arts Center at NTID/RIT, Rochester, New York.
2011 Artist's Talk, at Deaf Arts Festival, Brooklyn, Michigan.
2011 Video Presentation with Eastern Kentucky University, Richmond, Kentucky.
2011 De'VIA Talk, at The Delaplaine Visual Arts Education Center, Frederick, Maryland.
2011 Artist's Talk, for the Deaf Culture Studies at Pikes Peak Community College, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
2010 Panel discussion at Denver Arts Week on 'THIS IS YOUR BRAIN ON ART', Denver, Colorado.
2010 Artist's Talk, at Dyer Arts Center at NTID/Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York.
2009 Panel discussion at Denver Art Museum on "Universal Design" for the Disabled, Denver, Colorado
2009 Panel discussion/Hands-on at Innovation & Creativity at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, NY
2008 Heartland Arts Festival Southeast Nebraska Regional Program for the Deaf Students, Lincoln, Nebraska
2008 Panel discussion at Colorado symposium "Art Works- a Conversation about Careers in the Art", Denver, CO
2002 Edmund Lyon Memorial Lectureship Award at Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York

Selected Commissions
2024 Gallaudet University at Chapel Hall, 56 feet wide by 19 feet high mural.
2023 Kansas School for the Deaf, Olathe, Kansas
2019 Deaf Action Center, Shreveport, Louiseana.
2019 Michigan School for the Deaf, Flint, Michigan.
2018 St. Mary’s School for the Deaf, Buffalo, New York.
2018 Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, Phoenix, Arizona.
2016 Rochester Recreation Club for the Deaf, Rochester, New York.
2016 Nyle DiMarco, LEAD-K, Sacramento, California.
2016 Nyle DiMarco, Gallaudet University, Washington, DC
2015 Mozzeria Restaurant, San Francisco, California
2014 Convo Relay, New York City, New York.
2013 Deaf Society of New South Wales, Sydney, Australia, Celebrating 100th year of Sign Language, October 2013.
2010 World Deaf Golf at St. Andrews, Scotland, 11x14inch dry pastels on bristol board for the World Deaf Golf Championships, St. Andrews, Scotland
2009 Ski Up High, 18inch by 24inch oil on canvas for the Wells Fargo Ski Cup and National Sports Center for the Disabled, Winter Park, Colorado
2007 City Park, Denver, 24inch by 30inch oil on canvas for Women's Vision Foundation, Denver, Colorado

Permanent and Private Collections
Interior mural at Governor Baxter School for the Deaf, Mackworth Island, Falmouth, Maine
Exterior mural at University High School, Irvine, California.
The Silesian Museum, Katowice, Poland.
Memorial Art Gallery Museum, Rochester, New York.
Laurent Clerc Museum, La Balme-les-Grottes, France.
Michigan School for the Deaf, Flint, Michigan.
Museum of Deaf History, Arts & Culture, in the Chuck Baird Gallery, Olathe, Kansas.
Washington School for the Deaf, Vancouver, Washington.
St. Mary’s School for the Deaf, Buffalo, New York.
Maryland School for the Deaf, Frederick and Columbia, Maryland.
Phoenix Day School for the Deaf, Phoenix, Arizona.
Sorenson Communications, Salt Lake City, Utah.
California School for the Deaf, Fremont, California.
Indiana School for the Deaf, Indianapolis, Indiana.
Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Rochester Recreation Club for the Deaf, Rochester, New York.
University of New Hampshire, Manchester, New Hampshire.
Columbia Collage Chicago, Illinois.
Gallaudet University, Washington, DC.
Colorado School for the Deaf and Blind, Colorado Springs, Colorado.
Alberta School for the Deaf, Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.
Mississippi School for the Deaf and Blind, Jackson, Mississippi.
Peter Wilson, St. Andrews, Scotland
Wells Fargo Bank, Denver, Colorado see painting.
National Sports Center for the Disabled, Denver, Colorado
The Children's Hospital, Denver, Colorado
Rochester Institute of Technology, Rochester, New York, Eleven paintings.
Saint John the Evangelist, Loveland, Colorado
American School for the Deaf, West Hartford, Connecticut.
Wisconsin School for the Deaf, Delavan, Wisconsin.