About

Bio

Donovan Hale is a Black artist from Cleveland, Ohio with a BFA Painting + Drawing degree from Ohio University. He showcases bold characters and narratives in digital illustrations and animations reminiscent of manga and anime styles. His work centers around the extrapolation of his experiences and emotions through the lense of Japanese culture and media. He combines his personal life with methodology of the culture he admires.

Artist Statement

Through digital illutrations and animations, I create glimpses into worlds created by my imagination as a way to escape the world and contextualize the emotions that it makes me feel. Through the showcasing of these snapshots, I entice the audience to learn more about the story of my life and connect it with their own. The way I present these ideas are ever changing, just as is my view of myself and the world around me.

My art making is centered around my own experiences but all are welcome to see. I will not make grandiose claims of life changing pieces or sophisticated commentary; my art is simply an expression of myself and reflection of my lived experiences. The only goal I set out to achieve is to inspire others to be creative, just as others have for me.