About
Royce Deans was born of parents that understood the important role that art plays in society and how crucial exposure to and participation is to the development of a young person. He was raised in the western suburbs of Chicago with access to museums and concert halls of every variety. Graduating from the American Academy of Art in Chicago gave him the foundation to build a life in the arts.
“Moving to Traverse City some four decades ago set his art on a wonderful trajectory. He counts each artistic endeavor as a rich experience that has shaped him into the artist he is today. Northern Michigan is such an incredibly beautiful place, the landscape has, of course, become an overwhelming source of inspiration.
Royce’s love for teaching and art has allowed him to travel far and wide. His artwork is in collections public and private in the US and in many of the countries of Western Europe, Israel. Highlights of his travels have been presenting classes, workshops, and retreats.
Selected Exhibitions and Lectures:
2024
The Nature of it All - Old Art Building, Leland, MI
Retrospective – Cedar North, Cedar, MI
Art Leelanau - Old Art Building, Leland, MI
2023
Residency – Oxbow, Saugatuk, MI
On Nature - Ramsdell Arts Center, Manistee, MI
New Work - Crooked Tree Arts Ctr, Traverse City, MI
Art Leelanau - Old Art Building, Leland, MI
Swimming – Glen Arbor Arts Center, Glen Arbor, MI
Spaces Between – Hudson Gallery, Sylvania, OH – Solo Show
Printmaking Residency – Tusen Takk Fdn., Leland, MI
2022
Printmaking Res. – Miller Beach Arts & Creative Dist. Gary, IN
In the Company of Nature – Marshall J. Gardner Center for the Arts, Gary, IN – 2-Person show
Printmaking Residency – Tusen Takk Foundation, Leland, MI
2021
Process & Evolution – Old Art Building, Leland, MI Solo Show
Ann Hall Artist in Residence – Old Art Building, Leland, MI
Lecture, Inside the Artist’s Mind: Drawings of Mathias Alten – Holland Museum, Holland, MI
Royce Deans & Friends – OAB, Leland, MI Group Show
As I Walk, As I Walk – Hudson Gallery, Sylvania, OH, Group Show
2020
Ann Hall Artist in Residence – Old Art Building, Leland, MI
The Figure – Hudson Gallery, Sylvania, OH, Group Show
Printmaking Residency – Gardner Center for the Arts, Gary, IN
2019
Figure Show – Water Street Gallery, Douglas, Michigan
NW Michigan Regional Salon des Refusés – Traverse City, MI
2018
Figures from Life – BLK MRKT, Traverse City, Solo Show
Pulse – Hudson Gallery, Sylvania, OH, Group Show
Reconnect – Gardner Ctr for the Arts, Miller Beach, Gary, IN
Royce Deans – Center Gallery, Glen Arbor, MI Solo Show
Irregular Symmetry of Pattern – Wright Gallery, Northport, MI
Spring Show – Water Street Gallery, Douglas, MI – Group Gallery Show
New Gallery/New Work – Glen Arbor Arts Center, Glen Arbor, MI Invitational Show
2017
Here & There – Grand Traverse Distillery, Traverse City
Painting Leelanau – Old Art Building, Leland, MI
Cities,Like Dreams,Swamps Where Cedars Grow – Provincial, Kaleva, MI
Landscapes – Traverse City C.C., Traverse City, MI, Solo Show
Classes Taught:
Biology of Art – Self-developed series of online classes
Under the Influence – Self-developed series of online classes
Figure Drawing from the Masters 1, 2, 3, 4 – Online Class
Interpreting the Landscape – Online Painting Class
Painting the Figure in Gouache Workshop – Palet, Zwolle, NL
Interpreting the Landscape – OAB, Leland, MI
Figure in the Landscape – Glen Arbor Arts Ass., Glen Arbor, MI
Painting with Gouache – Palet Zwolle Kunstenaars, Zwolle, NL
Finding Abstraction in Tel Aviv – Workshop, Tel Aviv, Israel
Painting Abstraction – Crooked Tree Arts Ctr., Traverse City, MI
Painting the Figure in the Landscape – Palet, Zwolle, NL
Intro to Figure Drawing – NMC Ext. Ed., Traverse City, MI
Figure Drawing II – NMC Ext. Ed., Traverse City, MI
Painting the Figure – Royce Deans Studio, Traverse City, MI
Painting with Intention – Royce Deans Studio, Traverse City, MI
Bring Life to Still Life – Royce Deans Studio, Traverse City, MI
Still Life is NOT Dead: Painting in Acrylic, Royce Deans Studio
Gallery Representation:
Robert Kidd Gallery - Birmingham, Michigan
Hudson Gallery – Sylvania, Ohio
Still Point Gallery - Cleveland Heights, Ohio
Vivid Gallery – Winnetka, Illinois
Main Street Gallery – Leland, Michigan
AES Gallery – Chicago, Illinois