Dempsey Keenan

Dempsey Keenan (she/they) is an artist and educator based in Tempe, AZ working in assemblage and printmaking. Currently serving as a studio artist in the Studio Artist Residency Program and a teaching artist at the Edna Vihel Arts Center, Keenan’s artistic journey is driven by a passion for youth in the community. Keenan creates assemblages using small discarded objects gathered through second-hand means. They section the design into its dominant shapes, dropping the objects into a low-viscosity adhesive. They also channel their artistic energy into linoleum block prints. Drawing by hand or digitally, they transfer their drawings to the linoleum rubber block with graphite. She carefully carves the block in what she describes as a meditative experience and hand prints on kozo paper. Predator and prey imagery serve as powerful symbols in Keenan’s work, representing the internal battles of depression and anxiety, which she sees youth struggling with. Keenan’s work delves into root causes of mental health struggles, exploring the effects of living in a capitalist society through the themes of hunger and devouring. With a stylized approach, Keenan’s art accentuates the power of line, shape, and space, creating visually captivating compositions that invite viewers to contemplate the connection between inner turmoil and societal structure.