derek kaplan
Born in Harare, Zimbabwe in 1975, Derek Kaplan is a self-taught, abstract artist now living and working in New York City. As a young boy growing up in Southern Africa, Derek was inspired by the colors and the natural beauty of the tropical grasslands that make up the African savanna. Rainfall was infrequent during the long dry season, but when it came, the clouds and storms that accompanied it inspired Derek’s earliest paintings.
Derek’s philosophy of art is simple: he thrives on abstract painting as it allows his carefree spirit the freedom to create acting on impulse, driven by instinct. He desires to create visceral works that engage his viewer, triggering a sensory response and strong emotion within them. He aims to create artworks that come to life, almost becoming their own life form, while pleasuring the eye and hinting at a world that lies deep beyond the surface of his paintings.
